Does the Prodigal Son Return?

Back in April, I had several friends over my place to watch UFC 112. During a long conversation that diverted us from the fight on air at the time, I returned my attention to the screen and something registered after several rounds of back and forth between myself and my guests.

I remember making the following announcement between the third and fourth rounds: "Guys, I don't know if you've noticed, but Frankie Edgar is winning..."

For someone who, at the time, was watching casually and not with my usual focused intent, that's what it looked like to me. It was close for sure. But Edgar looked faster, more aggressive, always moving... BJ Penn did not look as sharp.

He certainly didn't look like the BJ Penn of the prior eight months. Furthermore, it looked nothing like the BJ Penn of 155 lbs. Having seen every Penn fight since my interest in MMA began, I was stunned to see him look so off. Granted, he was decimated by Georges St-Pierre, but at that weight class, and with that size difference, I wasn't surprised. I didn't think anyone would be able to unseat him as champion.

I was clearly wrong.

In watching the April fight a second time, I saw it was very, very close. But I still gave it to Edgar as much as I gave the first encounter between Lyoto Machida and Mauricio Rua to Shogun. I didn't think he blew BJ out of the water... not by a long shot. But he definitely won in my eyes.

After the fight, Penn's camp said he was fighting a sinus infection, competing on antibiotics. I did my best to give them the benefit of the doubt, but after "Greasegate," I was somewhat dubious of this claim. Though it would explain how a typically dominant Prodigy could look so lackluster. So going into Saturday night, I expected Penn to come out with a fire under his ass, ready to reclaim his crown.

What all of us saw was something much less than the Prodigy. I'm not sure what it was. But I'm beginning to think it's the real BJ Penn. The man that's left when the fanfare and tough talk is stripped away. I gotta believe this is what we're seeing.

Nothing can ever be taken away from BJ's raw talent. However, his conditioning has long been called into question. Along with his heart. Let's not forget this is the man who once left the UFC and MMA altogether when he felt he no longer wished to fight. This is the man who sought excuses for his last two losses to GSP and Edgar.

I suspect this is the guy who looked outright lost after the second round of this Saturday's rematch.

I believe Penn is tremendously gifted as a fighter. But I question his heart. I think back to just last month when Brock Lesnar was getting obliterated by Shane Carwin, then managed to come back by the skin of his teeth and won after a dismal 10-8 round. I think back to earlier this month when Anderson Silva had been dissected by Chael Sonnen for four straight rounds and pulled out a miracle submission with just minutes to spare. I think back even further to Minotauro Nogueira's third round magic guillotine against Tim Sylvia. Or Matt Hughes' unexpected escape from Frank Trigg's choke a couple years before that.

These are the things that, in my opinion, make for great fighters and memorable champions. Fedor Emelianenko was once notorious for these comebacks. No one can question the heart of these individuals.

I believe BJ Penn is more naturally talented than Frankie Edgar. But Edgar is a much harder worker, much more naturally hungry. Much more intense in his demeanor in the cage. And this makes me want to cheer for him more as a fan.

I believe Penn was vastly over-matched against his 155 lb. opponents from 2007 to April of this year. It explains why he blew past everyone not named Georges St-Pierre until he faced Edgar. And now, he has to be questioning his own viability in this sport.

I'm not sure where BJ goes from here. If he rematches with Kenny Florian, he will probably be victorious. Other possible fights remain against the likes of Takanori Gomi and maybe even George Sotiropoulos if the latter can notch another win on his record.

But that depends on if he wants it badly enough. He's lost twice in a row to Edgar now. One time, he lost convincingly. Should he climb up the ladder to face Edgar or Gray Maynard, he is likely to have massive doubts going in. If he moves up to 170, he has a stacked division to contend with, and another massive hurdle in GSP, who has also defeated him twice.

It is a difficult choice to make. I certainly don't see him dropping to 145, I don't think his body could take it. Welterweight seems like a probable move, one that he has considered for a time according to most reports. But I don't think he'd fair well in that weight class under the current conditions.

I think the best move for BJ is to heavily consider what is best for him next... and to make sure whatever he decides, he goes about it with the utmost seriousness and dedication.

BJ can be the best. He can make a comeback and reclaim his title of best lightweight in the world. The question is, does he want that? Already videos have emerged stating he's looking to return to the cage soon. That's great, but at this point, we have no idea which BJ is gonna show up... the guy who backs up his boasts, or the guy we saw last weekend.