Not worth the wait: Penn outclassed in second-round TKO

Going back to retirement might look a little better to BJ Penn after this one-sided whooping.

Helpless to stop Yair Rodriguez’s leg kicks and powerless to put up much of an offensive, Penn got beat up in a his return to the octagon.

Rodriguez stopped Penn with a TKO just 24 seconds in the second round Sunday night at Talking Stick Resort Arena in Phoenix, ruining the UFC Hall of Famer’s first fight since 2014.

“I fought a legend tonight,” Rodriguez said. “He deserves all the respect. I just want to say thank you so much, B.J. Penn, for accepting a fight with me, even if I don’t ask for it, right

Hilo’s Penn, 38, came out of retirement in a bid to try and get a third title, but he was no match for the 24-year-old Rodriguez in the featherweight bout.

All three of the judges at fight website Sherdog scored the first round 10-9 for Rodriguez.

Penn tried to come out strong in the second round, but he was quickly dropped with a right kick to the head and a right hand. Rodriguez swarmed with several hammer fists, and referee John McCarthy stepped in stop the fight.

The 38-year-old Penn (16-11-2) has now lost four fights in row and he’s just 1-6-1 in his last seven. And that win came back in 2010.

If Penn in the past of the UFC, then Rodriguez (10-1) may be the future.

“That guy in the black sweater, (UFC matchmaker Sean Shelby), you can ask him,” Rodriguez said after winning his sixth consecutive fight. “I’m here for whatever you want to bring. Thank you so much for the opportunity to be here.”