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Career Summary: B.J. Penn is the true definition of mixed martial artist. Before entering MMA, he wasn’t just any other guy looking for an excuse to hit someone and not get in trouble, this guy was already good. It took him only three years to earn his black belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu - believed to be a record as it usually takes close to a decade to earn a black belt - and just weeks later he became the first non-Brazilian to win the black belt division of the World Jiu Jitsu Championships. It makes his Championship even more impressive as he only had three years of experience and defeated people who had been training their entire lives in the art.
After hearing of Penn’s amazing performance at the World Championships, Dana White contacted him hoping to convince him to make the switch to MMA and fight for the UFC. His first fight was then set for UFC 31 against Joey Gilbert. Although he was recruited for his mastery of BJJ, Penn won his first three fights all by opening round knockouts, showing how he is maybe the most natural fighter the sport has ever seen. He was given a title shot against Jens Pulver, but would lose a hard fought five round decision. He had successfully sent a flare in the MMA world, signaling the rise of a prodigy.
Pulver was stripped of his title after a contract dispute, and Penn was given another shot at the title. He faced off against Caol Uno for the open title in a clash of two dangerous fighters. But both fighters were left standing as the fight came to a draw. Penn wasn’t settled though, after defeating a prime Takanori Gomi Penn jumped up a weight class to welterweight and took on the heavily favored legend Matt Hughes in a battle for the championship. Though nobody gave Penn much of a chance he shocked the world by toppling the legend in the first round with a rear naked choke.
Penn decided to look for a challenge outside of the UFC next, though this led to the UFC stripping him of his title, citing a breach of contract. He once again moved up a weight class, this time to middleweight. He then took an open weight fight against Lyoto Machida, and took one more fight at middleweight before going back down to welterweight and re-entering the UFC. After coming to terms with White, Penn returned to the Octagon to take on rising welterweight Georges St. Pierre. Even though Penn went on to lose, he got the title shot anyways after St. Pierre injured himself in training. Facing off against Matt Hughes once again, Penn wasn’t able to reproduce the same outcome as the last time, losing by TKO in the third round.
After unsuccessful ventures at higher weight classes, Penn finally moved back down to lightweight to take on Jens Pulver, the only man to ever beat him at 155 lb. In a fight that saw Penn push the pace and dictate where the fight went, he was able to tap out his old foe in the second round with a rear naked choke. His next fight was another shot at the title, and this time Penn wouldn’t put it to waste. Taking on Joe Stevenson for the 155 lb. title - vacated by Sean Sherk due to a failed steroid test and subsequent suspension - Penn once again dominated the fight, finishing it by rear naked choke and winning the Lightweight Championship. Penn defended his title against Sherk, and then turned his attentions to an old foe, St. Pierre. Unfortunately, he lost again, with his corner stopping the fight after the fourth round. Going back down to lightweight, he made successful title defenses against Kenny Florian and Diego Sanchez before fighting Frankie Edgar. Coming into the fight at UFC 112, Edgar was an undersized lightweight who nobody believed had any chance whatsoever against the mighty Penn. But throughout the fight Edgar utilized effective quick striking and fades to upset Penn and become the new UFC Lightweight Champion. Now Penn goes into his next fight as the challenger again.
Strengths: Penn has an all-around strong game. He is one of the best BJJ practitioners in the world and can submit somebody at any position on the ground. With his submission game he has strong top control and the ability to pass opponents guard and achieve full mount quite easily. Unlike most great BJJ artist who make the move to MMA, Penn has an equally deadly boxing game, having some of the best hands in the division. He utilizes his ground and pound effectively, not only using it as a means to hurt an opponent but to distract his prey and then pass while he’s trying to defend himself.
Weaknesses: Penn has a history of gassing in fights. Four out of the seven fights that have seen Penn go to decision have ended with his opponents hand raised. However, up until his fight with Frankie Edgar, many people thought that he had improved his endurance and was now rid of that problem. Unfortunately as the fight wore on Penn began dropping his hands and he was even taken down twice, something that had not happened at lightweight since his first fight with Jens Pulver. Besides that, all of his problems are mental. One of them is his identity: is B.J. Penn a lightweight? He’s fought as high as 191 lb. and often makes ventures into welterweight. There were speculations that had he beaten Edgar at UFC 112, he would have made the move back up to welterweight and tried to earn his 170 lb. title back from Georges St. Pierre. Another mental problem of his is commitment. How much does he want to fight? Making the move from BJJ to MMA wasn’t his decision; instead he was persuaded into it by Dana White. After his second fight against St. Pierre he admitted that had he won he would have retired, making you wonder how committed he really is. I know his weaknesses seem kind of, well weak, but it’s because he is really, really good.
Where he stands in the division: B.J. is a legend; even if he can’t beat Edgar he’ll always be known as one of the best to ever grace the division. Right now I have him reluctantly behind Edgar as the #2 lightweight in the UFC. I say reluctantly because Edgar couldn’t finish Penn in their fight and it was close all throughout.
What the future holds: His future as a fighter hinges on this fight. If he can beat Edgar than expect him to stay as the Lightweight Champ. Though if he loses he may just move up to welterweight where his heart seems to lie. Even if he wins it may not be long before he makes the move to welterweight.
How close he is to a title shot: The time is upon him, once again he has a chance to write his name as one of the few to ever wear a belt, all he has to do is beat one of the few men to ever best him.
On deck for next week: I’ll be taking a look at the legend that is Mirko Cro Cop as he steps into the Octagon against Frank Mir at UFC 119.
Dan Wyatt is a communications major in college looking at a career in sports radio and sports writing. Outside of sports you can find him doing stand up comedy or acting in the upcoming independent film, Company of the Damned.
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