B.J. Penn

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B.J. Penn
Career Snapshot
Born December 12, 1978
Died -
Total Fights 11
Won 8
Lost 2
Drew 1
Knockouts/submission unknown
Titles Won
  • UFC Welterweight champion

B.J. "The Prodigy" Penn (born December 12, 1978 in Hilo, Hawaii) is a professional mixed martial arts fighter. He is also the first winner of World Brazilian Jiu Jitsu championship(Mundial) black belt category in 2000.

Contents

Biography

Youth

At the age of seventeen he began training Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, and in 1997 he started training under Ralph Gracie. After being awarded his black belt in 2000, he became the first non-Brazilian to win a gold medal in the black belt division of the Mundial World Championships held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Challenge to UFC

His accomplishments caught the attention of the Ultimate Fighting Championship, where he began his mixed martial arts career less than a year later in 2001. He demonstrated strong striking skills, knocking out lightweights Din Thomas and Caol Uno before suffering a decision loss to Jens Pulver. He bounced back in 2003, winning victories over the likes of Takanori Gomi, Japan's number-one ranked lightweight fighter. But the crowning achievement of Penn's career came in 2004 at UFC 46. Penn jumped up in weight classes to challenge the five-time welterweight champion Matt Hughes to fill a title contention slot in a division where Hughes had already defeated all the available opposition. Heavily favored to win, Hughes lost the fight four minutes into the first round by rear naked choke.

Life after the UFC

Shortly after defeating Matt Hughes, the new champion signed to fight in the K-1 organization. UFC president Dana White promptly stripped him of the welterweight title belt, claiming breach of contract and that Penn refused to defend his title. Penn filed a suit against the UFC and publicized his side of the conflict, but no progress has been made and a return to the UFC does not seem imminent.

In his first K-1 fight, Penn fought again at welterweight (170 lbs) and defeated Duane Ludwig at the 2004 K-1 Romanex show in under five minutes. Following that fight, Penn moved up in weightclass to face the undefeated Rodrigo Gracie at middleweight (205 pounds). Penn won by decision, extending his winning streak to four fights and his undefeated streak to seven.

At the K-1 Heroes event in Japan, Penn controversially moved up to face Ryoto Machida in a heavyweight match, losing by decision.

Career

  1. May, 1997 Enters first tournament in Bakersfield, CA and wins both his weight and the open weight class.
  2. June, 1997 Enters the Joe Moreira tournament as a blue belt winning his weight class.
  3. June, 1997 Wins submission grappling tournament
  4. 1997 Enters Brasileiro and places 4th in his weight class, blue belt category
  5. 1997 Continues to enter tournaments upon return from Brazil placing first consistently
  6. 1997 Receives blue belt from Ralph Gracie
  7. 1998 Silver medal at Brazilian Mundials competition in his weight division; receives purple belt upon return
  8. 1999 Bronze medal at Brazilian Mundials in heavier weight class as a newly promoted Nova Uniao brown belt.
  9. 1999 Gold medal, Copa Pacific Tournament in Los Angeles
  10. 1999 Receives Black belt from Andre Pederneiras just 3 weeks before the 2000 Mundials
  11. 1999 Joins Nova Uniao Competition Team (reserved for the four top team competitors)
  12. 2000 First non-Brazilian to win gold medal in black belt division of the Mundial World Championships held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
  13. 2001 Enters UFC 31 preliminary match and beats Joey Gilbert by referee stoppage at 4:58
  14. 2001 Beats Din Thomas by knockout in 2:17 at UFC 32
  15. 2001 Beats Caol Uno by knockout in, well, fast at UFC 34
  16. 2002 Loss to Jens Pulver by majority decision at UFC 35
  17. 2002 Beats Paul Creighton by TKO at UFC 37
  18. 2002 Beats Matt Serra by unanimous decision at UFC 39
  19. 2003 Draws to Caol Uno at UFC 41
  20. 2003 Beats Takanori Gomi by rear naked choke at Rumble on the Rock 4 making BJ the World Lightweight Champion
  21. 2004 Beats 5 time Welterweight Champion Matt Hughes by rear naked choke at UFC 46 making BJ the UFC Welterweight Champion and steals the title for the best fighter "pound for pound"
  22. 2004 Beats Duane "Bang" Ludwig by arm triangle at K-1 MMa Romanex
  23. 2004 Beats Rodrigo Gracie by decision at Rumble on the Rock

See also

External links

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