Most #UFC fans may not have asked for it, but the legendary #BJPenn is coming out of retirement to face up-and-comer Yair Rodrguez this weekend.
Although it isn't always the right move, "unretiring" has become a bit of a staple of the sports world, as legendary athletes understandably struggle with deciding to step away from their respective crafts.
Ahead, here are a few famous sports stars who just couldn't stay retired.
Brock Lesnar
After taking a beating from Alistair Overeem at UFC 141, the #WWE turned #MMA star decided it was time to hang up his monster-sized gloves for good. However, he couldn't stay away from the Octagon forever and made his highly-anticipated return against Mark Hunt at #UFC200 last year. While Lesnar initially won the bout, his victory was turned into a no contest due to a failed drug test, which also cost him a cool $250,000 and possibly even bigger headaches.
Floyd Mayweather Jr.
The undefeated pugilist has stepped away from #boxing on a few occasions. Mayweather's first retirement came after his beatdown of Oscar De La Hoya in 2007, which didn't last long as he came back the same year to beat Ricky Hatton. Most recently, Mayweather said he was done with the sport following his win over Andre Berto in 2015, however, a certain Irish MMA superstar may be the man to coax him out of retirement once more.
Michael Jordan
His Airness has made a sport of coming back from retirement. Jordan first bowed out of basketball in 1993 to pursue a so-so career in baseball. He eventually returned in 1995 to lead the Bulls to a few more amazing playoff runs, including three NBA championships. Jordan retired a second time between 1999 and 2001, eventually returning to the sport with the Wizards. The hoops icon clearly was't the same man during his last trip through the NBA and retired for good in 2003.
Fedor Emelianenko
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Following an abysmal run through Strikeforce and a few wins over less than stellar competition, the Last Emperor thought it was best to stay out of the cage. However, he was coaxed back into competition in 2015, earning a submission win in #Rizin. Emelianenko is now slated to face UFC veteran Matt Mitrione at #Bellator's February 18 show.
Michael Phelps
The most decorated Olympian of all-time nearly missed out on earning that title following his retirement from swimming at the conclusion of the 2012 Olympics. Phelps, of course, came back for the 2016 Games, once again dominating the competition to win six medals, including five gold. It will be interesting to see if he comes back for the 2020 Games.
George Foreman
Following a brutal loss and a near death experience in 1977, the boxing legend stepped away from the sport to get in touch with his spiritual side. Amazingly, he came back a decade later, going undefeated for 24 fights before suffering a decision loss to Evander Holyfield in 1991. Foreman kept fighting through the mid-90s and nearly took on Larry Holmes in 1999. However, his last fight would come via a decision loss to Shannon Briggs in 1997.
Royce Gracie
The Brazilian MMA pioneer probably should've called it quits once they stopped letting fighters wear gis, however, he kept chugging along through the late 2000s. Although Gracie looked to make his UFC return at an event in 2011, he revealed in 2013 that he was done with the sport. Of course, the fighting icon once again got the itch to throw down and went on to defeat his nemesis Ken Shamrock in a controversial battle in Bellator last year.
Brett Farve
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Brett Farve may be the poster child for "unretiring." The Packers great first retired in 2008, but ended up wanting to play again, which really complicated things. Farve wound up playing that year after being traded to the Jets. In the subsequent years, the NFL superstar had a so-so career plagued by injuries. Farve retired for good in 2011 following a stint with the Vikings.
Randall Cunningham
The quarterback famously retired in 1995 after a falling out with the Eagles, but was able to come back in 1997 after joining the Vikings. His return proved to be the best season of his career, as Cunningham led the Vikings to a 15-1 season, falling just short of becoming Super Bowl champions. After bouncing around a few teams, he played his last game during the 2001 season for the Ravens.
Deion Sanders
The talented, multi-sport athlete initially stepped away from football in 2001 following a stint with the Redskins. However, Sanders found himself back on the gridiron in 2004 after he was signed by the Ravens. He had a few decent seasons during his comeback, but ended up retiring for a second and final time in 2006.
Magic Johnson
The Lakers great decided to leave basketball in 1991 when news broke that he had contracted HIV. Johnson quickly returned to the sport in 1992 for the NBA All-Star, where he was named that year's MVP. Outcry from fellow players led to his second retirement, which lasted four years. He briefly came back to the Lakers in 1996 to play 32 games before saying goodbye to basketball for the last time.
Ricky Williams
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Ricky Williams decided to step away from football to find himself following a third failed drug test in 2004. He returned the following year, but was forced to sit on the sidelines for the 2006 season after a fourth failed drug test, which meant Williams spent the year playing football in Canada. 2007 was much better, as he failed yet another drug test as he returned to the Dolphins. Williams was never really the same on the field following the retirement and drug testing fiascos, posting much lower numbers than he did from 2003 prior. Williams retired for good in 2012 after a stint with the Ravens.
Roger Clemens
Former Red Sox and Yankees ace Roger Clemens said he would hang up his glove following the 2003 season, which included his 300th career win and 4,000th career strikeout. The retirement only lasted the off season, though, as he returned to baseball with the Astros from 2004-2006 and then played again for the Yankees in his actual final season in 2007. The older, "unretired" Clemens, unfortunately, didn't have as much fire in his arm as he used to, so it might have been a good idea to have stayed retired the first time.
Which athlete do you wish stay retired the first time? Let us know in the comments below.
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