Chad Mendes not interested in B.J. Penn's comeback, doesn't want to see him 'get hurt'

Chad Mendes

Former UFC champion B.J. Penn recently ended his brief retirement and declared his intention to chase the featherweight championship. Longtime 145-pound contender Chad Mendes said he questions the wisdom behind that decision.

Although Mendes (17-4 MMA, 8-4 UFC) has come up short in three UFC title bouts, he’s shared the octagon with the best in the weight class, from Conor McGregor to Jose Aldo to Frankie Edgar.

Penn’s (16-10-2 MMA, 12-9-2 UFC) recent announcement was met with mixed opinions. “The Prodigy” is training at Jackson-Wink MMA in Albuquerque, N.M., and is shooting for a return at UFC 197 on March 5. Mendes said he’s not fond of this idea and believes Penn should stay put in the comfort of retirement.

“No, B.J. Just no,” Mendes said on the “You’re Welcome with Chael Sonnen” podcast. “I think for a lot of people that have been the man for as long as he has – and I’m not saying this like I know him, and this is all speculation – but I think it’s hard for a lot of these people to let go. Some time passes, and it’s not like he’s being forgot, but he probably doesn’t get quite the attention he does when he’s in the octagon.”

Penn last appeared in the octagon at The Ultimate Fighter 19 Finale in June 2014, when he took a beating from Edgar before being stopped with strikes in the third round. The Hawaiian arrived to the event’s post-fight press conference in tears and revealed his time as an active competitor was over.

The retirement lasted less than two years, though. Penn said he’s motivated and determined to regain a prominent position in the sport, but Mendes doesn’t see the value in making such an attempt.

“I can’t imagine there are any financial issues, but you never know,” Mendes said. “But (expletive), he had a run. He did great. He’s a legend in the sport. There’s got to be a time.”

The main concern of most, including Mendes, is the potential damage the 37-year-old could take at this point in his career. The featherweight division is full of fighters determined to make an impression and get the biggest fight the sport has to offer against reigning champ McGregor.

Mendes said he simply doesn’t see Penn as someone who could fall into that category. And more importantly, he doesn’t want to witness the UFC Hall of Famer take any more unnecessary damage.

“More than anything I just don’t want to see the guy get hurt,” Mendes said. “He’s getting older, and this is a brutal sport – not just in the fights, but through training camps. I feel like we get more damage done in training camps than most of the time when you step in the octagon. If it’s that time, it’s that time.”

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