UFC 137: 5 Fights To Bring B.J. Penn out of Retirement

With B.J. Penn's recent loss to Nick Diaz, he immediately announced his intentions to retire to Joe Rogan in his post-fight interview.

Penn was battered after the fight and cited his family as a reason for his decision to hang up his gloves. However, the consensus opinion is that Penn has a few fights left in him.

Here are five fights that Dana should offer Penn if he wants him to return to the octagon at least one more time.

Rematch with Jon Fitch

Due to Jon Fitch's plodding, grappling-heavy style, there are not many fights that are an easy sell to the general public. This one is.

Penn vs. Fitch was a razor close fight that could have gone either way, and Penn was close to finishing in the first round before Fitch's cardio led to a comeback in the latter half of Round 2 and domination of Round 3.

Penn could possibly take this fight as a way to say farewell because it allows him to settle the score with a new-found rival who is at the top of the division. The fact that Fitch presents no threat whatsoever on his feet is also a nice bonus.

Rematch with Kenny Florian

Penn's victory over Florian at UFC 101 was pretty decisive so many would not want to see this rematch. However, their fight was over two years ago, and a lot has changed since then.

When they first fought, Penn still appeared to be the undisputed best lightweight in the world, and Florian was a noteworthy challenger on a win streak.

Now, both find themselves in very similar situations in their careers as guys who failed to make a successful run at the title away from lightweight and are now left to contemplate retirement.

Putting Penn and Florian together would show who has more left and who should get their subscription to AARP magazine.

Gray Maynard

What do Penn and Maynard have in common? Neither want to fight Frankie Edgar anytime soon. Most would say that Maynard would simply outwrestle Penn, but most said the same thing about Fitch.

Penn has said that he only wants to compete with the best, and Maynard is one of the elite fighters at lightweight, and the only man to beat the current champ.

A win for either would likely give them first crack at any lightweight champion not named Frankie Edgar. The fact Penn could trade power for power with Maynard and the potential reward just may be enough for Penn to put his rocking chair away and make one last run at lightweight.

Chris Lytle

Lytle had a great ending to an exciting career in MMA when he submitted British brawler Dan Hardy at UFC Live: Hardy vs. Lytle. But you have to wonder if his retirement will stick.

A story came out that when Carlos Condit was in need of an opponent after Georges St-Pierre's scratch, Lytle was chomping at the bit to step in.

Could a fight with the legendary Penn pique his interest? Should Lytle's run for the Indiana State Senate fail, he could be looking to get into the Octagon, and a farewell fight with Penn would be electric.

Lytle-Penn would in all likelihood earn at least one fight-of-the-night bonus, lining both of these guys' pockets for plenty of retirement golf.

Royce Gracie

This one may be a little far-fetched, but it makes sense on some levels.

Gracie has been begging Dana White for one last fight in the UFC, preferably in Brazil. The UFC plans on doing at least one event in Brazil in 2012. Why not give him a fight with Penn?

Both are highly-decorated jiu-jitsu practitioners, and both are fan favorites who are sure to generate some buzz should they come out of retirement. While the idea of Penn pummeling Gracie into the canvas is not a pleasant one, this could turn into quite the entertaining grappling match.

In all likelihood Penn beats Gracie with ease. Gracie gets his last fight in his native country. Penn goes out with a win and the fans get to see two of their favorites one last time.

It's a win for everybody!