A look at the Legacy of B.J. Penn

Born Jay Dee “B.J.” Penn on December 13, 1978. B.J. Penn was introduced to the world of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu by his long time friend and teacher Tom Callos at the age of 17. Through the tutelage of Andre Pederneiras at the Brazilian based Nova Uniao Jiu-Jitsu academy B.J. earned his black-belt in only three years. In 1999 B.J. placed third at the World Jiu-Jitsu Championships in the brown belt division, B.J. returned in 2000 and became the first non-Brazilian in history to win first place in the black-belt division of the World Jiu-Jitsu Championship held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil and he is also a two time, two division Mixed Martial Arts champion. Because he was such an apt pupil in the world of BJJ Penn was nicknamed “The Prodigy”.

At the age of 22 he made his professional debut at UFC 31 vs. Joey Gilbert on May 24, 2001 in Atlantic City, New Jersey winning by TKO at 4:57 of the first round. Penn won his next two fights with a first round TKO of Din Thomas at UFC 32 and a first round KO of Japanese star Caol Uno at UFC 34. After 3 dominating performances the UFC matched Penn against octagon veteran Jens Pulver at UFC 35 for the first ever lightweight title. With neither fighter able to finish, the fight went to the judges where Penn was handed his first professional loss by unanimous decision. Coming off the Pulver loss Penn racked up two straight wins before earning another shot at the vacant lightweight title at UFC 41 against Caol Uno but once again his bid failed as the judges unanimously declared the bout a draw. Penn then went to Pride for one fight against lightweight champion Takanori Gomi at Rumble on the Rock 4 in Honolulu, Hawaii where he won via rear naked choke midway through the third round. On January 31, 2004 at UFC 46 Penn squared off against Matt Hughes the UFC welterweight champion who at the time was on a thirteen fight win streak. Undaunted by the task at hand Penn needed only four minutes and thirty-nine seconds to beat Hughes by rear naked choke to finally win a title on his fourth attempt.

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Over the course of a ten year span B.J. Penn accumulated a win/loss record of 16 - 8 - 2 and is one of only two men in UFC history to win two titles in two different weight classes, and is the first fighter in UFC history to fight in four different divisions. B.J. has fought in eleven UFC title fights and to date the only UFC Champion to challenge another UFC Champion for a chance at holding two belts simultaneously in two different divisions. He was recognized by Hawaii’s Star Bulletin as the #4 most significant Hawaii sports figure of the decade in 2009 and during the same year was honored with a “BJ PENN DAY” by Big Island Mayor, Billy Kenoi and he was also the UFC's top pay-per-view draw.

Outside his career and MMA Penn gives back to the community via Penn Hawaii Youth Foundation which helps at risk kids by teaching them martial arts and being a positive role model in the community. He also has a New York Times Best Selling Autobiography entitled, Why I Fight: The Belt is Just an Accessory. B.J. Penn became a father on October 25, 2008, when his daughter, Aeva Lili’u Penn was born.

Just 1-3-1 in his last five bouts including a pair of losses to Frankie Edgar in 155-pound title bouts, Penn chose to jump from the lightweight to welterweight division to make another hopeful but improbable run at the welterweight title but his recent loss to Nick Diaz derailed any immediate shot at the title and now the outlook is uncertain for the 32-year-old veteran. In the post fight interview with Joe Rogan Penn announced his imminent retirement from pro-fighting “This is probably the last time you’re going to see me here, I’ve got a daughter, another daughter on the way. I don’t want to go home looking like this. I’m done.” Penn said.

UFC President Dana White however, does not see Penn retiring yet as he was quoted saying, “B.J. is a warrior. What happened to him tonight has never happened to him in his entire career. What he’s thinking tonight he might not think eight weeks from now.”

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By Geoff Peacock
ProFighting-fans.com Senior MMA Staff Writer