In spite of the fact that he just signed a new fight contract with the UFC, BJ Penn has instead opted to retire from MMA for the second time after losing by TKO to Frank Edgar. It is the third time Penn has lost to Edgar but the first time he's been stopped in the fight. The Prodigy, 35, is now 16-10 (.615) in his career with only one win in his last seven bouts.
He couldn't keep it together at the post-fight presser when a reporter asked him about his legacy. This is why I don't really want to see guys like GSP and Anderson Silva return. Yeah, they could do it, but why? What's the reward really when weighed against your lasting legacy in the sport?
I think people will always remember the greats for their dominant streaks. Yes, it would be nice not to see your favorite fighters getting KTFO'd several times in a row to end their careers, but I don't think less of Fedor, Penn, Lidell, etc. because of how their careers ended.