UFC
B.J. Penn - "If I ever feel it again, I'll come back"
Nov 8, 2011 - 7:10:54 PM B.J. Penn - "If I ever feel it again, I'll come back"

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By: Jamie Penick, MMATorch Editor-in-Chief

B.J. Penn's crushing loss to Nick Diaz at UFC 137 resulted in him emotionally telling Joe Rogan after the bout that he was done, and that loss would mark the last time he would be seen in the cage.

He's since changed that stance, and instead says he'll be taking some time off. In an interview on HDNet's Inside MMA on Monday, Penn said he's needed time off for awhile, and made it clear that he'll return if he becomes ready to return.

"I kinda think this is something that I should have [done] after the first Frankie Edgar fight," Penn said. "A bunch of my coaches pleaded with me to step away from the sport, take some time off. I don't really like the results I've been getting.

"[I need to] take some time off. Take some time away from the sport. If I ever feel it again, I'll come back... I don't want to be sitting in the locker room saying, I can't believe I'm still doing this."

Penick's Analysis: This is essentially what I was saying in the roundtable last week. Penn is eventually going to get the itch again, and then he'll return to the cage. It doesn't matter when that is, and he should take whatever time he feels like he needs to clear his head, get past the performances he's not entirely happy with, and then return. He'll be back, it's just a matter of time.

[B.J. Penn art by Cory Gould (c) MMATorch.com]