B.J. Penn "The Prodigy"
Record: 16 - 7 (2 DRAWS)
Height: 5'9
Weight: 170 lbs
Age: 34

Fighting out of: Hilo, USA

B.J. Penn Tweets

Jay Dee "B.J." Penn (born December 13, 1978 in Kailua, Hawaii), also known as "The Prodigy," is an American professional mixed martial arts fighter and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu practitioner who is currently the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Lightweight Champion.

In 2000, he became the first American-born winner of the World Jiu-Jitsu Championship in the black-belt category. Penn is also a former UFC Welterweight Champion and was a coach on the The Ultimate Fighter 5 reality show. He became the second fighter to win UFC titles in two different weight classes after he won the lightweight title at UFC 80.

In early 2006 at UFC 56, UFC president Dana White announced that Penn and the UFC had agreed to a settlement and Penn was to return as a top welterweight contender. Penn re-debuted on March 4 at UFC 58, losing to Georges St. Pierre by split decision in a fight that determined the number one welterweight contender.

Hughes and Penn before their rematch at UFC 63: Hughes vs. Penn

After new top contender St. Pierre injured himself during training, the UFC announced that Penn would replace St. Pierre in an upcoming title fight, setting up a highly anticipated rematch with Hughes for UFC 63 on September 23, 2006. In the bout Penn controlled the first two rounds, but sustained a rib injury during the scramble to take Hughes' back in round two. He was visibly different in the third round, appearing exhausted and missing punches he was landing earlier. Hughes was able to take Penn to the mat, and in side control crucifix position rained punches on Penn's head until referee "Big" John McCarthy stopped the fight at 3:53 of the third round, making this the first time that Penn had been stopped in a fight. In an interview found on Penn's personal website, Penn stated that by round three he could hardly breathe and had no "mobility in his core." Despite the injury, Penn congratulated Hughes, calling him a great fighter and saying he deserved the victory.

Penn was a coach for The Ultimate Fighter 5, which aired on April 5, 2007. Penn lead a team of eight lightweight fighters, and fought a rematch against Jens Pulver at the conclusion of the series on June 23, 2007. He won with a rear naked choke in the second round after controlling Pulver from the mount and then taking Pulver's back. Although he held the choke for a moment after Pulver tapped out, the two then embraced, with both later saying they no longer held any ill will against each other.

On July 7, 2007, during the post-fight press conference of UFC 73, UFC president Dana White announced that Penn would stay at lightweight to fight current UFC lightweight champion Sean Sherk. However, Sean Sherk subsequently was suspended by the California State Athletic Commission, and the status of the possible title fight was left in limbo as he pursued his appeals. With Sherk's title status still in limbo after months of hearings, the UFC scheduled Penn to fight Joe Stevenson at UFC 80 on January 19, 2008 for an interim lightweight title.

The subsequent final decision by the California State Athletic Commission, which did not overturn Sherk's suspension, led to the title being stripped from Sherk and the Penn-Stevenson fight being upgraded to a full title bout, with the winner facing Sherk in their first defense.

Career Statistics:
Knockout Wins:  2   (08%) Knockout Losses:  0   (0%)
TKO Wins:  5   (20%) TKO Losses:  2   (08%)
Submission Wins:  6   (24%) Submission Losses:  0   (0%)
Decision Wins:  3   (12%) Decision Losses:  5   (20%)
Draws: 2 No Contests: 0
Career Fights:
Opponent Method Event Date Rnd
Draw Jon Fitch Draw UFC 127: Penn vs. Fitch Feb. 27, 2011 3
Win Matt Hughes Knockout UFC 123: Rampage vs. Machida Nov. 20, 2010 1
Loss Frankie Edgar Unanimous Decision UFC 118: Edgar vs. Penn 2 Aug. 28, 2010 5
Loss Frankie Edgar Unanimous Decision UFC 112: Invincible Apr. 10, 2010 5
Win Diego Sanchez Technical Knockout UFC 107: Penn vs. Sanchez Dec. 12, 2009 5
Win Kenny Florian Submission UFC 101: Declaration Aug. 08, 2009 4
Loss Georges St. Pierre Technical Knockout UFC 94: St. Pierre vs. Penn 2 Jan. 31, 2009 4
Win Sean Sherk Technical Knockout UFC 84: Ill Will May. 24, 2008 3
Win Joe Stevenson Submission UFC 80: Rapid Fire Jan. 19, 2008 2
Win Jens Pulver Submission UFC: The Ultimate Fighter 5 Finale Jun. 23, 2007 2
Loss Matt Hughes Technical Knockout UFC 63: Hughes vs. Penn Sep. 23, 2006 3
Loss Georges St. Pierre Split Decision UFC 58: USA vs Canada Mar. 04, 2006 3
Win Renzo Gracie Unanimous Decision K-1: World Grand Prix Hawaii Jul. 29, 2005 3
Loss Lyoto Machida Unanimous Decision K-1: Hero's 1 Mar. 26, 2005 3
Win Rodrigo Gracie Unanimous Decision ROTR 6: Rumble on the Rock 6 Nov. 20, 2004 3
Win Duane Ludwig Submission K-1 MMA: Romanex May. 22, 2004 1
Win Matt Hughes Submission UFC 46: Supernatural Jan. 31, 2004 1
Win Takanori Gomi Submission ROTR 4: Rumble on the Rock 4 Oct. 10, 2003 3
Draw Caol Uno Draw UFC 41: Onslaught Feb. 28, 2003 5
Win Matt Serra Unanimous Decision UFC 39: The Warriors Return Sep. 27, 2002 3
Win Paul Creighton Technical Knockout UFC 37: High Impact May. 10, 2002 2
Loss Jens Pulver Decision UFC 35: Throwdown Jan. 11, 2002 5
Win Caol Uno Knockout UFC 34: High Voltage Nov. 02, 2001 1
Win Din Thomas Technical Knockout UFC 32: Showdown in the Meadowlands Jun. 29, 2001 1
Win Joey Gilbert Technical Knockout UFC 31: Locked Loaded May. 04, 2001 1
Total Fights: 25   |   Record: 16 - 7 (2 DRAWS)
WHO WINS THE MAIN EVENT AT UFC 162 BETWEEN ANDERSON SILVA AND CHRIS WEIDMAN?
Silva via Decision
Silva via TKO/KO
Silva via Submission
Weidman via Decision
Weidman via TKO/KO
Weidman via Submission
TAKE ANOTHER POLL!