B.J. Penn - Career Highlights Posted by Zach | at 3:13 PM

Hello fellow bloggers, back again with another career highlight. Just like I did with Fedor/Dan Henderson, I will follow up the Carlos Condit post with his upcoming opponent B.J. Penn. He too is an exciting fighter, known for his 'just scrap' attitude.

B.J. 'The Prodigy' Penn

MMA Record: 16 wins - 7 losses - 2 Draws

•  Knockouts: 7
• Submissions: 6
• Decision Wins: 3

Notable Ranks: Black Belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu

Camp: BJ Penn's MMA

Honors: Former UFC Lightweight/Welterweight Champion, Submission of the Night x 2, Knockout of the Night.

BJ Penn started his martial arts lifestyle in 1997 training Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu under Ralph Gracie, earning his purple belt from him before moving to different training team called Nova Uniao, earning his black belt in 2000. Shortly after earning his black belt, he became the first non-Brazilian to win the black belt division at the World Jiu Jitsu Championship. He is also famous for how fast he received his black belt, as most martial artists earn theirs after around 10 years of training, Penn earned his in 3 years.

His accomplishments gave him enough recognition to start off his MMA career in the UFC, knocking out his first 3 opponents before gaining his first loss to the [former] champion Jens Pulver. After the lightweight division was suspended, he moved up to face Matt Hughes, former Welterweight champion, whom he beat via Rear Naked Choke. 

He then went on to fight at different organizations, and eventually returned to the UFC. He also had a re-match versus Matt Hughes, in which he lost via TKO. Penn went on to coach TUF, and got revenge against Jens Pulver, which set him up to fight Joe Stevenson. In perhaps in one of the most bloody, one-sided fights, BJ Penn became the UFC lightweight champion.

BJ Penn versus Joe Stevenson (on bottom)

The rest of his career has been up and down. He moved up weight to fight current WW champion GSP, lost, moved back down and defended his lightweight belt until losing to current lightweight champ Frankie Edgar, and losing in the immediate rematch. He went on the KO Matt Hughes, went to a draw with Jon Fitch, and is slated to fight Carlos Condit at UFC 137.

Highlight Striking GIFs:

BJ Penn KOs Matt Hughes

 

BJ Penn TKOs Sean Sherk

BJ Penn KO's Caol Uno

 Highlight Grappling GIFs:

 

RNC on Jens Pulver

RNC on Joe Stevenson

RNC on Matt Hughes