Morning Report: B.J. Penn willing to end retirement to fight Mike Dolce's 'boy' Nik Lentz

The 2014 collaboration between UFC Hall of Famer B.J. Penn and nutritionist Mike Dolce didn't exactly pan out.

After dropping back-to-back decisions to Nick Diaz at UFC 137 in 2011 and Rory MacDonald at UFC on FOX 5 in 2012, Penn took 2013 off to drop from welterweight to 145 pounds.

Penn's featherweight debut against former lightweight champion Frankie Edgar at The Ultimate Fighter 19 Finale ended in a third-round TKO loss and there was plenty of finger-pointing.

Rather than credit Edgar with another elite win, his third over Penn, the performance was scrutinized from all angles.

A month after the loss, Penn placed much of the blame on Dolce, saying he "would never hire him again for anything."

Dolce responded to those comments during an appearance on UFC commentator Joe Rogan's podcast and downplayed his role in the camp leading up to the fight.

When Rogan asked him for an example of something "odd" going on in camp, Dolce cited a relaxed training schedule, saying Penn was only training about once a day.

Penn later disputed those claims by saying he trained between 5-6 days a week which included running "four to eight miles a day, sparring/grappling and MMA training in the evening."

Making an appearance on UFC Tonight, Penn took the beef up a major notch.

"I'm sick and tired of talking about Mike Dolce," said Penn. "You know what, Mike Dolce? I put a challenge out right now, you go grab Nik Lentz, that's your boy? Bring him down to 145 [pounds]. I'll run right through him in one round and then I'll find you in the back and I'll smash you, OK? Let's do that right now. I'm ready."

Besides Lentz being a Dolce client, the American Top Team product was also a main sparring partner for Penn during the camp in question.

Last year, Penn remarked he'd even "broken" Lentz in sparring.

"He brought Nick Lentz in for five rounds, but he couldn't continue after the fourth and left the cage bloodied," Penn said in 2014. "Dolce even walked up to me after and said he ‘knew I was going to win the fight because I just broke Nik Lentz.'"

Now, Penn says the beef would even bring him out of retirement.

"Mike Dolce wants to say all this stuff," said Penn. "I don't train. I don't this and that. Let's do this. Bring him down to 145. It sounds like I would [come out of retirement]. I would come out for that."

Penn says he hasn't trained since the loss to Edgar, but that he's looking to redeem his poor featherweight debut.

"Some things were said and this and that," said Penn. "Got me heated. I was there. He was there to work for 20 days. I paid him $1,000 a day. I'm not here to talk about that again but I'm sick and tired of hearing it so many times.

"145. Let's do this. That was my last fight. It didn't go well. I had a very bad showing. I'm ready for something like that. I've been hanging out. I haven't stepped in the gym for two years. I'll come out for the grudge match and we'll see what happens after that."

Asked for comment by MMAFighting.com, Dolce replied simply, "I have nothing but good things to say about B.J. Penn. He is a legend whom I will cheer for anytime he competes."

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MEDIA STEW

UFC 192 embedded episode 2.

UFC 192 Countdowns with Hendricks vs. Woodley and Bader vs. Evans.

UFC 192 open workout highlights.

Mixed Martial Arfs.

Rashad Evans talking about Georges St-Pierre's fear of UFO's.

TTTHS.

Long watches.

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TWEETS

Camping.

New fight.... New challenger... First days of training camp... Let do this #rouseyVSholm #andSTILL... https://t.co/PKM3M8d1NQ

— Ronda Rousey (@RondaRousey) October 1, 2015

Get well soon.

I was hoping to be giving another victory speach, like this one here, in around 6 weeks time.... https://t.co/AAM56e3F92

— michael (@bisping) October 1, 2015

Doctors appointment right now getting my money checked out and cleaned up. Ahead of scheduled God is... https://t.co/uvnvQDsxwt

— Melvin Guillard (@Young__Assassin) September 30, 2015

La primera lesión de lupe. pic.twitter.com/kxVtJ4MfCY

— Erik Goyito Pérez (@Goyito_Perez) September 30, 2015

@alanbelcherufc my brother!!!!! John D just had a hip surgery.. Be out of commission for 8 weeks :-( I will text you or call you tomorrow

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Sorry.

Just found out Whitaker has an opponent... Gonna go find some cookies to smash... Thanks anyways ....... ✌️

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Buds.

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Congrats.

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FIGHT ANNOUNCEMENTS

Announced yesterday (Sept. 30 2015)

Michael Bisping out, Uriah Hall vs. Robert Whittaker at UFC 193

Travis Browne vs. Matt Mitrione at UFC Fight Night: Dillashaw vs. Cruz

Tim Boetsch vs. Ed Herman at UFC Fight Night: Dillashaw vs. Cruz

Matt Bessette vs. Kevin Roddy at Bellator 144

Jeremie Holloway vs. Matt Secor at Bellator 144

Marius Enache vs. Pete Rogers at Bellator 144

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