UFC legend BJ Penn has dropped a big hint he could be about to return to MMA in a social media post including the caption, “We coming.”
On his Twitter feed, the former two-weight UFC champion displayed the following image with revered MMA coach Greg Jackson:
Writing for the Sun, Simon Head claims it’s a post that means Penn “could be on the verge of a sensational return to the sport.”
Tagged in the post are UFC president Dana White and the brand’s account itself. Naturally, the post has sparked a lot of talk about whether Penn, a former lightweight and welterweight title-holder, may be considering a return to the sport at the age of 37.
The man himself revealed last year it was something he was considering, insisting he was “ready” to return and fight Nick Lentz, per UFC Tonight (h/t Damon Martin of FOX Sports). In the same interview, Penn even hinted he’d be happy to square off against featherweight title holder Conor McGregor—McGregor is to challenge lightweight champion Rafael dos Anjos at UFC 197.
Here’s a reminder of why Penn is considered by many to be one of the very best fighters in the history of UFC:
McGregor is actually seeking to level Penn and Randy Couture’s record of becoming a two-weight UFC champion, although the Irishman would become the first competitor ever in the UFC to hold two titles simultaneously if he was to best Dos Anjos.
Still, Bleacher Report’s Jonathan Snowden rates Penn as one of the best American fighters the sport has ever seen, only behind Jon Jones, Matt Hughes and Demetrius Johnson:
Given how good he was and how exciting so many of his fights were, the romantic instinct inside fight fans will be itching to see Penn take to the Octagon one more time. After all, there are still competitors who go on until the age of 37, and the inherent talent the Hawaiian possessed is something that can be preserved over time.
Nevertheless, his last fight with Frankie Edgar was hopelessly lopsided, with Penn stopped in the third round. He could never completely blemish his legacy given the remarkable memories created, but should Penn return again and falter, more and more MMA fans will be remembering him for all the wrong reasons.
When it comes to retirement, it’s always better for fans to ask “why are you?” than “why haven’t you?”
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