TUF 19 Finale in Tweets: Pros react to Frankie Edgar's TKO victory, BJ Penn's retirement, more

B.J. Penn entered The Ultimate Fighter 19 yearning for a storybook finale to his already fabled fighting career. By the end though, his last act was simply another cruel reminder that the young devour the old in this unforgiving sport, and Father Time waits for no man, regardless of how celebrated or decorated they may be.

For the third time in as many tries, Penn fell short to Frankie Edgar on Sunday night. The weight class may have changed, and the stakes may have lessened, but this ending was no more merciful. A vicious third-round TKO, a cruel fate for the man we once dubbed "The Prodigy." Edgar not only dominated... most telling of all, he made Penn look old.

And so, for the last time (hopefully), we say thank you and goodbye to B.J. Penn, the brash Hawaiian kid who so often seemed so otherworldly, toppling early day giants with implausible and ferocious ease, both astounding and occasionally confounding, but never leaving any question about his place among the legends of mixed martial arts.

Much respect to BJ Penn win, lose, or draw

— Anthony Johnson (@Anthony_Rumble) July 7, 2014

#GreatestLightweightFighterOfAllTime = @bjpenndotcom, #Respect big homie...#TUFFinale #TUF19 #TheOnceAndFutureKing

— Benson Henderson (@BensonHenderson) July 7, 2014

One of the greatest @bjpenndotcom one of my idols thanks for all the great @ufc fights

— FranCisco Rivera (@CiscoRiveraUFC) July 7, 2014

BJ is probably my favorite fighter off all time because of his just scrap that makes this even harder to watch

— Ike Vallie-Flagg (@IKEVF) July 7, 2014

I can't be the only one who hated to watch that fight go like that? Tough to see such a legend go out like that.

— Aljamain Sterling (@FunkMasterAljO) July 7, 2014

Fuck...

— russell doane (@RussellDoane135) July 7, 2014

Damn that hurt my heart to see Penn like that

— Will Brooks (@illwillbrooks86) July 7, 2014

BJ may have made the weight cut look easy but I don't think it really was for him. He just didn't look healthy

— Will Brooks (@illwillbrooks86) July 7, 2014

Who's bj penns striking coach for this fight? Whoever it is screw you because you ruined him! :/

— Cody Bollinger (@CodyBollinger) July 7, 2014

Damn, that was hard to watch happen to such a legend.

— MIKE RICHMAN (@MikeUSMCRichman) July 7, 2014

#Depression has set in. Still proud of my brother @bjpenndotcom.

— Joe Lauzon (@JoeLauzon) July 7, 2014

Thank you @bjpenndotcom for all the memories in the octagon!!! One of the greatest!!! #HALLOFFAME

— Ed Soares (@edblackhouse) July 7, 2014

BJ Penn has and always will be one of my all time favorite fighters.

— Evan Dunham (@evandunham155) July 7, 2014

The last of my era has retired. @bjpenndotcom will always have my respect and admiration. A true #hawaii warrior

— FRANK TRIGG (@FRANKTRIGG) July 7, 2014

@bjpenndotcom u are a living legend my friend. Thank u for all great fights. #TheChamp #Respect

— Manny Gamburyan (@MannyGamburyan) July 7, 2014

Thanks for the memories @bjpenndotcom you are a legend

— Brian Cobb (@banditcobbmma) July 7, 2014

Damn... Completely dominated fight by @FrankieEdgar

— Raphael Butler (@RealThaSilencer) July 7, 2014

Please give BJ the come to Jesus speech right now please...lower your stance and come forward..I don't wanna see him lose like this this

— Brian Rogers (@BRogthePredator) July 7, 2014

This is hurting me to watch

— David Rickels (@TheCaveman316) July 7, 2014

Regardless of any outcomes @bjpenndotcom will still be one of my favorites of all time. Great fighter, guy, and friend. Mahalo BJ.

— Joe Ellenberger (@JoeEllenberger) July 7, 2014

Thanks BJ for this amazing career ! True legend always gonna be a fan !! #TUF19Finale #halloffame

— patrick cote (@patrick_cote) July 7, 2014

Fuck ... No one talk to me for two weeks

— Ian McCall (@Unclecreepymma) July 7, 2014

Thanks for all the awesome fights @bjpenndotcom, one of the greatest of all time. @ufc @UFCONFOX

— Seth Baczynski (@Sethbmma) July 7, 2014

I tell everyone @bjpenndotcom is my favorite fighter of all time. Thanks for being a martial artist and speaking out agains steroids!

— Cole Miller (@colemillerATT) July 7, 2014

@bjpenndotcom still my favorite fighter.. Oss @ufc @ufcfightclub @TheUFCDay

— diegobjjtx (@diegobjjtx) July 7, 2014

So much respect to @bjpenndotcom so amazing to have been able to watch him over the year #legend #halloffame @ufc #thankyoubjpenn

— Steven Siler (@Stevesiler) July 7, 2014

Bj looked pretty malnourished... There really was no need for him to comeback, always a Bj fan here!!! #UFCFightNight

— Mark Bocek (@MarkBocek) July 7, 2014

Hard one to watch. Frankie dominated. He looked great. Sad to see bj have a fight like that. Both guys , all class

— TJ Grant (@TJ_Grant) July 7, 2014

@bjpenndotcom your still the best!!!! @ufc

— Sean Soriano (@ssorianoMMA) July 7, 2014

Sad to see @bjpenndotcom to lose but @FrankieEdgar is a tough fighter as well

— Johny Hendricks (@JohnyHendricks) July 7, 2014

Congrats @FrankieEdgar @AliAbdelaziz00 @RABJJAcademy @RenzoGracieBJJ

— Rafael dos Anjos (@RdosAnjosMMA) July 7, 2014

That was sad. Goes to show you that you can't take 3 yrs off and not train even if you're BJ Penn this sport evolves to fast for that..

— James Vick (@JamesVickMMA) July 7, 2014

There are some people you just can't beat. Unfortunately for BJ Penn, that's Frankie Edgar - Beautiful finish - #TUF19Finale

— The Spartan (@EliasTheodorou) July 7, 2014

I hope that's the last time bj fights in the octagon....hate to see his career tarnished by holding on to long!# legendary #halloffame

— Roger Narvaez (@Silverback316) July 7, 2014

I'm calling it now, Frankie Edgar replaces Jose Aldo on Aug. 2nd.

— Michael Chiesa (@MikeMav22) July 7, 2014

BOooo... \o/ @FrankieEdgar @CoreyA_MMA

— Edson Barboza (@EdsonBarbozaJR) July 7, 2014

Frankie Edgar finishes bj with GNP. Might be the First time I’ve seen bj cut and bleeding. Edgar’s elbows were on point #tuf19finale

— Sarah Kaufman (@mmasarah) July 7, 2014

I love how everyone was team Penn 30 min ago and now everyone is talking shit about him. Head up @bjpenndotcom

— kendallgrovemma (@kendallgrovemma) July 7, 2014

I was rooting for Frankie Edgar, but that's not what I wanted to see. BJ needs to hang em up...#TUF19Finale

— Cody Gibson (@TheRenegade559) July 7, 2014

Excited for Edgar, but heartbreaking to watch BJ go out like that!

— Louis Gaudinot (@LouGaudinotUFC) July 7, 2014

I'm saddened to see this fight unfolding the way it has. @bjpenndotcom is a legend but just shell of what he once was :/ #TUF19Finale @ufc

— Bubba McDaniel (@BubbaTheMenace) July 7, 2014

COREY ANDERSON VS. MATT VAN BUREN

Congrats @coreyA_mma gonna be a big star!!!! #ufc #tuf19 http://t.co/jyGE1Iip4N

— Anthony Pettis (@Showtimepettis) July 7, 2014

Boom!!! Way to go @CoreyA_MMA

— Ben Askren (@Benaskren) July 7, 2014

Man!! @CoreyA_MMA real deal!! @ufc

— Urijah Faber (@UrijahFaber) July 7, 2014

Boom congrats @CoreyA_MMA . #ironarmy #hometeam #TUF19Finale

— Akira Corassani (@AkiraCorassani) July 7, 2014

Fuck!!

— Raphael Butler (@RealThaSilencer) July 7, 2014

Whenever a fighter talks shit about wrestling he deserves a thorough beating. #TUF19Finale

— Cody Gibson (@TheRenegade559) July 7, 2014

Hot damn!!!! Great job so far @CoreyA_MMA and @truckmma @FrankieEdgar let's baby!!! FRANKIE E!!!!

— David Branch (@DavidcBranchMMA) July 7, 2014

bummer gutter

— AJ Matthews (@AJ_MMA) July 7, 2014

Congrats to @CoreyA_MMA on becoming the Tuf 19 205 champ! Looked good bro! @AliAbdelaziz00

— Brad Tavares (@BradTavares) July 7, 2014

Congrats to @CoreyA_MMA ! Awesome fight !

— Sergio Pettis (@sergiopettis) July 7, 2014

Corey aint bout that hump life! #TUFFinale

— Derek Brunson (@DerekBrunsonMMA) July 7, 2014

Congrats to Corey Anderson but "Beastin 25-8" is a terrible nickname.

— Patrick Healy (@BamBamHealy) July 7, 2014

There's an elephant in the room... #CoreyAndersonsNipples

— Kyle Kingsbury (@Kingsbu) July 7, 2014

Damn I wanna win a @harleydavidson

— Cub Swanson (@CubSwanson) July 7, 2014

I got rejected from The Ultimate Fighter season 5

— Cub Swanson (@CubSwanson) July 7, 2014

EDDIE GORDON VS. DHIEGO LIMA

Back of the head ? #TUF19 #TUF19Finale I saw a few

— Brian Rogers (@BRogthePredator) July 7, 2014

Huge hammer fist to the back of the head! #UncoolBro #TDF2014

— Cub Swanson (@CubSwanson) July 7, 2014

Horrible back of head blows to @DhLimaMMA. Disgusting officiating. @ufc tuf 19

— Cole Miller (@colemillerATT) July 7, 2014

Yves Lavigne fucks up again.

— Matt Brown (@IamTheImmortal) July 7, 2014

This one to the neck to ease the pain

— Toon (@predatorgreen) July 7, 2014

You can't TARGET the back of the head... But you can hit there. In a scramble, there aren't targets.,. Just collateral damage. Just messy.

— Joe Lauzon (@JoeLauzon) July 7, 2014

That's how a mans fights when he wants to change his life!! @truckmma good work sir

— Raphael Butler (@RealThaSilencer) July 7, 2014

These Longo / Serra boys mean business. #UFCFightNight

— James Krause (@TheJamesKrause) July 7, 2014

Wow!!!! What a week @truckmma #unbelievable http://t.co/1aRUlPaXEn

— Gian Villante (@GPVillante) July 7, 2014

HELL YEAAAA BABYYY!!! EDDIE "TRUCK" GORDON!!! #TUF19Finale #CHAMP! #StrongIsland 2-0 this weekend! @UFC @truckmma. I wanna ride that Harley!

— Aljamain Sterling (@FunkMasterAljO) July 7, 2014

Yeaaa what a great weekend, @truckmma and @ChrisWeidmanUFC !!!! #serralongo #longisland

— AL IAQUINTA (@ALIAQUINTA) July 7, 2014

I liked when #tuf was a cant miss show & it created stars,I didn't watch a ton this season but it seems the magic & star power is gone

— Brian Rogers (@BRogthePredator) July 7, 2014

not saying its the show's fault but it seems like their are about 8 quality fighters each show but they bring N 16 & only 2 have personality

— Brian Rogers (@BRogthePredator) July 7, 2014

DERRICK LEWIS VS. GUTO INOCENTE

F that. That is a mountain of a man. #TUFFinale

— Joe Lauzon (@JoeLauzon) July 7, 2014

Can't believe how hard @Thebeast_ufc hits! God blessed that man wit some power!

— Roger Narvaez (@Silverback316) July 7, 2014

My brother @GutoInocente we all fall in life but getting up is living! And you will get back stronger

— TyroneSpong (@Tyrone_spong) July 7, 2014

Those were heavy punches #ouch #LightsOut #ufc #TUF19Finale

— Chris Clements (@menaceclements) July 7, 2014

Big Black with the Godzilla like power! #TUFFinale

— Derek Brunson (@DerekBrunsonMMA) July 7, 2014

I think that should have been ruled a clean ko, not tko. #givehimtheko #ufc #TUF19Finale #blackbeast

— TJ Grant (@TJ_Grant) July 7, 2014

Big boy hits hard. #UFCFightNight

— James Krause (@TheJamesKrause) July 7, 2014

DUSTIN ORTIZ VS. JUSTIN SCOGGINS

Damn, close fight but I thought @TankScogginsMMA won that. I thought he took rnds 1 and 3.. #teamtank fan for life. .

— Mike Brown (@mikebrownmma) July 7, 2014

That's my boy @DustinOrtizMMA !!!!!

— Sergio Pettis (@sergiopettis) July 7, 2014

Robbery

— Daniel Straus (@DanielStraus) July 7, 2014

That was really back and forth. scoggins RD 3, Ortiz RD 2. Not sure who got 1

— Aljamain Sterling (@FunkMasterAljO) July 7, 2014

Congrats @DustinOrtizMMA

— Chris Holdsworth (@holdsworth135) July 7, 2014

I still believe in the young #FutureChamp @TankScogginsMMA this will just make him hungrier and stronger @ufc #TUF19Finale

— Bubba McDaniel (@BubbaTheMenace) July 7, 2014

Great scrap. 2 Tasmanian Devils. No idea who won? #ufc

— Chris Clements (@menaceclements) July 7, 2014

I got Ortiz. Scoggins was game throughout, and had his moments ij every round.

— TJ Grant (@TJ_Grant) July 7, 2014

I have @TankScogginsMMA 29-28

— Brad Pickett (@One_Punch) July 7, 2014

great battle between Ortiz and Scoggins! #FlyweightsRule

— Joseph Benavidez (@JoeJitsu) July 7, 2014

What a great fight #TUF19Finale

— Ed Herman (@EdHermanufc) July 7, 2014

Let's just score this a draw!! #TUF19Finale

— Cub Swanson (@CubSwanson) July 7, 2014

I apologize everyone. I didn't fight like myself tonight.

— JM Tank Skywalker (@TankScogginsMMA) July 7, 2014