B.J. Penn facts for kids
Quick facts for kids B.J. Penn |
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Penn in 2019
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| Born | Jay Dee Penn III December 13, 1978 Kailua, Hawaii, U.S. |
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| Other names | The Prodigy | |||||||||||||
| Residence | Hilo, Hawaii | |||||||||||||
| Height | 5 ft 9 in (175 cm) | |||||||||||||
| Weight | 145 lb (66 kg; 10 st 5 lb) | |||||||||||||
| Division | Featherweight (2014–2017) Lightweight (2001–2003, 2007–2010, 2018-2019) Welterweight (2004, 2006, 2010–2012) Middleweight (2004–2005) Openweight (2005) |
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| Reach | 70 in (178 cm) | |||||||||||||
| Style | Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu | |||||||||||||
| Team | B.J. Penn's MMA | |||||||||||||
| Trainer | Jason Parillo | |||||||||||||
| Rank | 5th degree black belt in BJJ | |||||||||||||
| Years active | 2001–2014, 2017–2019 | |||||||||||||
| Mixed martial arts record | ||||||||||||||
| Total | 32 | |||||||||||||
| Wins | 16 | |||||||||||||
| By knockout | 7 | |||||||||||||
| By submission | 6 | |||||||||||||
| By decision | 3 | |||||||||||||
| Losses | 14 | |||||||||||||
| By knockout | 4 | |||||||||||||
| By submission | 1 | |||||||||||||
| By decision | 9 | |||||||||||||
| Draws | 2 | |||||||||||||
| Other information | ||||||||||||||
| Notable school(s) | Hilo High School | |||||||||||||
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Medal record
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Jay Dee "B.J." Penn III (born December 13, 1978) is an American former professional mixed martial arts (MMA) fighter. He is also a 5th-degree black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ). Penn is a famous figure in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). He was both a UFC Lightweight Champion and a UFC Welterweight Champion. He is only the second fighter in UFC history to win titles in two different weight classes.
Before his MMA career, Penn became the first non-Brazilian to win the World Jiu-Jitsu Championship at the black belt level. This amazing achievement earned him the nickname "The Prodigy." In MMA, he competed in many weight classes, from Featherweight to Heavyweight. In 2015, Penn was honored by being one of the first people added to the Modern-era wing of the UFC Hall of Fame.
Many people think Penn was one of the best fighters in the world during his career. UFC President Dana White said Penn helped make the lighter weight classes popular. White called him a "crossover pay-per-view star" who helped build the 155-pound division.
Contents
Early Life and Martial Arts Training
Penn was born in Kailua, Hawaii. His father, Jay Dee Penn, is of Irish American descent, and his mother, Lorraine Shin, is of Korean and Hawaiian descent.
When he was 17, Penn started training in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. His neighbor, Tom Callos, introduced him to the sport. Soon after, Penn moved to California to train at the Ralph Gracie BJJ academy. This is where he decided to make martial arts his career.
Mixed Martial Arts Career
A Champion in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
Penn started training in BJJ in 1997. He earned his black belt in 2000, which is a very fast progression. Just a few weeks later, he won the black-belt division of the World Jiu-Jitsu Championship in Brazil. He was the first person not from Brazil to ever win this title. This incredible accomplishment is why he is called "The Prodigy."
Joining the Ultimate Fighting Championship
Penn's success in BJJ got the attention of the UFC. He made his MMA debut on May 24, 2001, at UFC 31 and won. He quickly showed powerful striking skills. After a championship fight against Jens Pulver ended in a loss, the UFC temporarily suspended the lightweight division.
In 2004, Penn moved up to the welterweight division to challenge the champion, Matt Hughes, at UFC 46. Even though Hughes was expected to win, Penn won the fight in the first round with a rear naked choke. This victory made him the UFC Welterweight Champion and is considered one of the biggest upsets in MMA history.
Fighting in Japan and Returning to the UFC
For a short time, Penn fought for the K-1 promotion in Japan. He won two fights there before returning to the UFC in 2006. His first fight back was against Georges St-Pierre, which he lost by a close split decision.
Later that year, he had a rematch with Matt Hughes for the welterweight title. Penn controlled the first two rounds but injured his rib. He became tired in the third round, and Hughes won the fight by TKO.
Penn then became a coach on the TV show The Ultimate Fighter 5. He coached a team of lightweight fighters against a team coached by Jens Pulver. At the end of the season, Penn defeated Pulver by submission.
Winning the Lightweight Championship
On January 19, 2008, Penn fought Joe Stevenson for the vacant UFC Lightweight Championship at UFC 80. Penn dominated the fight from the start. He won in the second round with a rear-naked choke, becoming the new champion. This made him the second fighter ever to win UFC titles in two different weight classes.
Penn defended his title against former champion Sean Sherk at UFC 84. Penn won by TKO at the end of the third round. After the fight, he asked the crowd if they wanted to see him fight Georges St-Pierre again, and they cheered loudly.
Challenging for the Welterweight Title
Penn challenged Georges St-Pierre for the welterweight title on January 31, 2009, at UFC 94. The first round was even, but St-Pierre controlled the rest of the fight. After the fourth round, Penn's corner stopped the fight.
There was some controversy after the fight. St-Pierre's corner was seen rubbing Vaseline on his back, which is not allowed. This became known as "Greasegate." The athletic commission investigated but found no wrongdoing. However, the UFC changed its rules to prevent this from happening again.
Defending the Lightweight Title
Penn returned to the lightweight division to defend his title. He defeated Kenny Florian at UFC 101 by submission in the fourth round. This was his first successful title defense.
His next defense was against Diego Sanchez at UFC 107. Penn controlled the entire fight and won by TKO in the fifth round. This victory set a new record for the most title defenses in the UFC lightweight division (three).
Losing the Title
At UFC 112 in April 2010, Penn fought Frankie Edgar. In a surprising result, Penn lost a very close fight by unanimous decision. Many people thought Penn had won, so an immediate rematch was scheduled.
In the rematch at UFC 118, Edgar won again, this time more clearly. All three judges scored the fight for Edgar.
Later Career and Retirement
After losing the title, Penn moved back to welterweight. He fought Matt Hughes for a third time at UFC 123. Penn won by knockout in just 21 seconds.
Penn then fought top contender Jon Fitch to a draw. His next fight was against Nick Diaz at UFC 137. Penn lost by unanimous decision. After the fight, he announced he was thinking about retiring.
He returned in 2012 to fight Rory MacDonald but lost the fight. In 2013, it was announced that Penn would coach The Ultimate Fighter against Frankie Edgar for a second time. They fought for a third time at the end of the season, with Penn moving to the featherweight division. Edgar won the fight by TKO, and Penn announced his retirement again.
After a break, Penn returned to fighting in 2017. He fought four more times but lost each match. His final fight was against Clay Guida on May 11, 2019, at UFC 237.
Personal Life
His nickname "B.J." is short for "Baby Jay." He is the youngest of three brothers all named "Jay Dee Penn."
Penn is proud of his Hawaiian heritage and often uses Hawaiian music for his walk-out entrances. He is the co-author of an instructional book on MMA and an autobiography called Why I Fight: The Belt is Just an Accessory.
In 2021, Penn announced he would run for governor of Hawaii. He did not win the Republican primary election. In 2024, he ran for a seat on the Hawaii County Council.
Legacy and Influence
Penn is seen as one of the biggest stars in MMA history. He helped make the lightweight division popular at a time when the UFC was thinking about getting rid of it. His nickname, The Prodigy, came from how quickly he earned a black belt in BJJ and won a world championship.
In May 2015, the UFC announced that Penn would be inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame. Many other famous fighters, like Anderson Silva and Mark Coleman, have called Penn one of the greatest fighters of all time.
Championships and Accomplishments
Mixed martial arts
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Bleacher Report
Brazilian jiu-jitsu
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Mixed martial arts record
| Professional record breakdown | ||
| 32 matches | 16 wins | 14 losses |
| By knockout | 7 | 4 |
| By submission | 6 | 1 |
| By decision | 3 | 9 |
| Draws | 2 | |
| Res. | Record | Opponent | Method | Event | Date | Round | Time | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loss | 16–14–2 | Clay Guida | Decision (unanimous) | UFC 237 | May 11, 2019 | 3 | 5:00 | Rio de Janeiro, Brazil | |
| Loss | 16–13–2 | Ryan Hall | Submission (heel hook) | UFC 232 | December 29, 2018 | 1 | 2:46 | Inglewood, California, United States | Return to Lightweight. |
| Loss | 16–12–2 | Dennis Siver | Decision (majority) | UFC Fight Night: Chiesa vs. Lee | June 25, 2017 | 3 | 5:00 | Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, United States | |
| Loss | 16–11–2 | Yair Rodríguez | TKO (punches) | UFC Fight Night: Rodríguez vs. Penn | January 15, 2017 | 2 | 0:24 | Phoenix, Arizona, United States | |
| Loss | 16–10–2 | Frankie Edgar | TKO (punches) | The Ultimate Fighter: Team Edgar vs. Team Penn Finale | July 6, 2014 | 3 | 4:16 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | Featherweight debut. |
| Loss | 16–9–2 | Rory MacDonald | Decision (unanimous) | UFC on Fox: Henderson vs. Diaz | December 8, 2012 | 3 | 5:00 | Seattle, Washington, United States | |
| Loss | 16–8–2 | Nick Diaz | Decision (unanimous) | UFC 137 | October 29, 2011 | 3 | 5:00 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | Fight of the Night. |
| Draw | 16–7–2 | Jon Fitch | Draw (majority) | UFC 127 | February 27, 2011 | 3 | 5:00 | Sydney, Australia | |
| Win | 16–7–1 | Matt Hughes | KO (punches) | UFC 123 | November 20, 2010 | 1 | 0:21 | Auburn Hills, Michigan, United States | Return to Welterweight. Knockout of the Night. |
| Loss | 15–7–1 | Frankie Edgar | Decision (unanimous) | UFC 118 | August 28, 2010 | 5 | 5:00 | Boston, Massachusetts, United States | For the UFC Lightweight Championship. |
| Loss | 15–6–1 | Frankie Edgar | Decision (unanimous) | UFC 112 | April 10, 2010 | 5 | 5:00 | Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates | Lost the UFC Lightweight Championship. |
| Win | 15–5–1 | Diego Sanchez | TKO (doctor stoppage) | UFC 107 | December 12, 2009 | 5 | 2:37 | Memphis, Tennessee, United States | Defended the UFC Lightweight Championship. |
| Win | 14–5–1 | Kenny Florian | Submission (rear-naked choke) | UFC 101 | August 8, 2009 | 4 | 3:54 | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States | Defended the UFC Lightweight Championship. Submission of the Night. |
| Loss | 13–5–1 | Georges St-Pierre | TKO (corner stoppage) | UFC 94 | January 31, 2009 | 4 | 5:00 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | For the UFC Welterweight Championship. |
| Win | 13–4–1 | Sean Sherk | TKO (knee and punches) | UFC 84 | May 24, 2008 | 3 | 5:00 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | Defended the UFC Lightweight Championship. |
| Win | 12–4–1 | Joe Stevenson | Submission (rear-naked choke) | UFC 80 | January 19, 2008 | 2 | 4:02 | Newcastle upon Tyne, England | Won the vacant UFC Lightweight Championship. Submission of the Night. |
| Win | 11–4–1 | Jens Pulver | Submission (rear-naked choke) | The Ultimate Fighter 5 Finale | June 23, 2007 | 2 | 3:12 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | Return to Lightweight. |
| Loss | 10–4–1 | Matt Hughes | TKO (punches) | UFC 63 | September 23, 2006 | 3 | 3:53 | Anaheim, California, United States | For the UFC Welterweight Championship. Fight of the Night. |
| Loss | 10–3–1 | Georges St-Pierre | Decision (split) | UFC 58 | March 4, 2006 | 3 | 5:00 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | Return to Welterweight. |
| Win | 10–2–1 | Renzo Gracie | Decision (unanimous) | K-1: World Grand Prix Hawaii | July 29, 2005 | 3 | 5:00 | Honolulu, Hawaii, United States | Light Heavyweight bout. |
| Loss | 9–2–1 | Lyoto Machida | Decision (unanimous) | K-1: Hero's 1 | March 26, 2005 | 3 | 5:00 | Saitama, Japan | Openweight bout. |
| Win | 9–1–1 | Rodrigo Gracie | Decision (unanimous) | K-1 Rumble on the Rock 6 | November 20, 2004 | 3 | 5:00 | Honolulu, Hawaii, United States | Middleweight bout. |
| Win | 8–1–1 | Duane Ludwig | Submission (arm-triangle choke) | K-1 MMA: Romanex | May 22, 2004 | 1 | 1:45 | Saitama, Japan | |
| Win | 7–1–1 | Matt Hughes | Submission (rear-naked choke) | UFC 46 | January 31, 2004 | 1 | 4:39 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | Welterweight debut. Won the UFC Welterweight Championship. |
| Win | 6–1–1 | Takanori Gomi | Submission (rear-naked choke) | K-1 Rumble on the Rock 4 | October 10, 2003 | 3 | 2:35 | Honolulu, Hawaii, United States | Won the Rumble on the Rock Lightweight Championship. |
| Draw | 5–1–1 | Caol Uno | Draw (split) | UFC 41 | February 28, 2003 | 5 | 5:00 | Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States | For the vacant UFC Lightweight Championship. |
| Win | 5–1 | Matt Serra | Decision (unanimous) | UFC 39 | September 27, 2002 | 3 | 5:00 | Uncasville, Connecticut, United States | |
| Win | 4–1 | Paul Creighton | TKO (punches) | UFC 37 | May 10, 2002 | 2 | 3:23 | Bossier City, Louisiana, United States | |
| Loss | 3–1 | Jens Pulver | Decision (majority) | UFC 35 | January 11, 2002 | 5 | 5:00 | Uncasville, Connecticut, United States | For the UFC Lightweight Championship. |
| Win | 3–0 | Caol Uno | KO (punches) | UFC 34 | November 2, 2001 | 1 | 0:11 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| Win | 2–0 | Din Thomas | KO (knee and punches) | UFC 32 | June 29, 2001 | 1 | 2:42 | East Rutherford, New Jersey, United States | |
| Win | 1–0 | Joey Gilbert | TKO (punches) | UFC 31 | May 4, 2001 | 1 | 4:57 | Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States | Lightweight debut. |
See also
In Spanish: B.J. Penn para niños
- List of UFC champions
- List of male mixed martial artists
- Double champions in MMA
- UFC Hall of Fame
- List of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu practitioners
