B.J. Penn facts for kids

Quick facts for kids B.J. Penn
Penn in 2019
Born	Jay Dee Penn III (1978-12-13) December 13, 1978 (age 46) Kailua, Hawaii, United States
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)
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
Medal record Representing  United States Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu World Championship Gold 2000 Rio de Janeiro −70 kg

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). B.J. Penn is a former UFC Lightweight Champion and UFC Welterweight Champion. He is one of only nine fighters in UFC history to win titles in different weight classes.

Before his MMA career, Penn was the first non-Brazilian to win the World Jiu-Jitsu Championship at the black belt level. In MMA, he competed in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) and K-1. He fought in many weight divisions, from Featherweight to Openweight. Penn was inducted into the Modern-era wing of the UFC Hall of Fame in 2015.

Early in his career, Penn was seen as one of the best pound-for-pound MMA fighters. He won the Rumble on the Rock Lightweight Championship. He also won the UFC Welterweight Championship by defeating Matt Hughes. After returning to the UFC, he won the UFC Lightweight Championship. He defended this title three times, setting a record at the time.

Many consider Penn one of the best fighters in UFC history. UFC President Dana White said Penn helped make the lighter weight divisions popular. He called Penn "the first crossover pay-per-view star" for these divisions.

Early Life and Training

B.J. Penn was born in Hawaii. His father is of Irish American descent, and his mother 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.

Penn then moved to San Jose, California, to train at the Ralph Gracie BJJ academy. He trained with Dave Camarillo and became close friends with him. It was during this time that Penn decided to become a professional martial artist.

Mixed Martial Arts Career

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Achievements

In 1997, Penn began training BJJ under Ralph Gracie. He earned his purple belt from Gracie. Later, he moved to Nova União. There, he received his black belt in 2000 from André Pederneiras.

Just a few weeks later, Penn made history. He became the first non-Brazilian to win the black-belt division at the World Jiu-Jitsu Championship. This event took place in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Penn also won a bronze medal in 1999 and a silver medal in 1998. Many believe Penn earned his black belt faster than any other active BJJ practitioner.

Joining the UFC

Penn's success in Jiu-Jitsu caught the eye of the Ultimate Fighting Championship. They convinced him to try mixed martial arts. He made his MMA debut on May 24, 2001, at UFC 31. He won his first fight against Joey Gilbert.

Penn quickly showed strong striking skills. He knocked out Din Thomas and Caol Uno. He then lost a championship fight to Jens Pulver. In 2003, after Pulver left, a tournament was held for a new champion. Penn fought Uno to a draw in the finals at UFC 41. This led the UFC to temporarily stop its lightweight division.

Later that year, Penn defeated Takanori Gomi. This win earned him his first MMA championship, the Rumble on the Rock Lightweight Championship. This event was part of K-1 Fighting Network's Rumble on the Rock.

Penn won his first UFC Championship in 2004 at UFC 46. He moved up in weight to challenge UFC Welterweight Champion Matt Hughes. Hughes was expected to win easily. However, Penn surprised everyone. He won by rear naked choke in the first round. This was a huge upset and a famous submission victory.

Fighting in Japan

After winning the UFC Welterweight title, Penn signed with the Japanese promotion Fighting and Entertainment Group (FEG). The UFC then took away his welterweight title. They said Penn broke his contract by not defending his title. Penn argued his contract had already ended.

In his second fight for FEG, Penn defeated Duane Ludwig in under five minutes. He then moved up to middleweight and beat Rodrigo Gracie. This extended his winning streak to four fights. On March 26, 2005, Penn faced Lyoto Machida at Hero's. Penn lost by decision in an open weight fight. Later that year, he returned to middleweight and defeated Renzo Gracie.

Return to the UFC

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

In 2006, UFC President Dana White announced Penn's return. Penn fought Georges St-Pierre at UFC 58. He lost by a close decision. Many people thought Penn did enough to win, as St-Pierre's face was very damaged.

St-Pierre got injured, so Penn replaced him in a title fight. This set up a rematch with Hughes at UFC 63. Penn controlled the first two rounds. However, he hurt his rib in the second round. In the third round, Hughes took Penn down and won by TKO. This was the first time Penn had been stopped in a fight.

Penn became a coach for The Ultimate Fighter 5 in 2007. He coached a team of lightweight fighters. He then had a rematch against Jens Pulver at The Ultimate Fighter 5#The Ultimate Fighter 5 Finale. Penn won by rear naked choke in the second round. After the fight, they hugged and said they no longer had any bad feelings.

In July 2007, the UFC announced Penn would fight UFC Lightweight Champion Sean Sherk. However, Sherk was suspended, so the fight was delayed. The UFC then scheduled Penn to fight Joe Stevenson for an interim lightweight title at UFC 80. When Sherk's title was taken away, Penn's fight became for the full title.

Lightweight Champion

Penn knocked Stevenson down quickly in the first round. He then took Stevenson down and landed an elbow that caused a cut. In the second round, Penn got Stevenson's back and won by rear naked choke. He became the Lightweight Champion. This made Penn the second fighter (after Randy Couture) to win UFC titles in two different weight classes.

On May 24, 2008, at UFC 84, Penn defended his title against Sean Sherk. Penn used his reach advantage and landed many jabs. In the third round, Penn hit Sherk with a flying knee. Sherk went down, and the fight was stopped. Penn won by TKO. After the fight, Penn said he wanted to fight Georges St-Pierre again.

Welterweight Title Shot

Penn appearing on the cover of the July 2008 issue of KoreAm

Penn challenged Georges St-Pierre for his welterweight title at UFC 94 on January 31, 2009. The fight was a big event for the UFC. Penn made a strong start in the first round, defending takedowns and exchanging punches.

However, in the next three rounds, St-Pierre took control. He took Penn down multiple times and used ground-and-pound attacks. Penn later said he couldn't remember much from the 3rd and 4th rounds. At the end of the fourth round, Penn's corner stopped the fight.

A controversy happened during the fight. St-Pierre's corner was seen rubbing his back after applying Vaseline to his face. The Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC) investigated but found no rule breaking. This event was called "Greasegate" by some fans. After this, the UFC changed its rules. Now, only official "cut men" can apply Vaseline to fighters.

UFC President Dana White said the incident didn't change the fight's outcome. Penn admitted he "definitely got my butt kicked." Penn later asked the NSAC to suspend St-Pierre's license, but this was denied.

Return as Lightweight Champion

Penn defended his Lightweight title against Kenny Florian at UFC 101 on August 8, 2009. Penn looked in great shape. He stopped all of Florian's takedown attempts. Penn avoided damage and landed explosive strikes. In the fourth round, Penn took Florian down and got his back. He then secured a rear naked choke to win the fight.

Penn fought Diego Sanchez for the UFC Lightweight Championship at UFC 107 on December 12, 2009. Penn controlled the fight with good footwork and takedown defense. He stunned Sanchez early and landed many clean shots. Penn continued to dominate with aggressive striking. In the final round, he landed a high kick that caused a big cut on Sanchez's forehead. The doctor stopped the fight, and Penn won by TKO.

This win marked Penn's third successful title defense. He broke the record for most consecutive UFC Lightweight Championship defenses. Joe Rogan called Penn "the greatest lightweight, in the history of the sport!"

Losing the Title

Penn's next title defense was against Frankie Edgar at UFC 112 on April 10, 2010. Penn was a big favorite, but he lost the close fight by unanimous decision. Many people disagreed with the judges' decision. Because of the controversy, an immediate rematch was scheduled.

Penn fought Edgar again at UFC 118. Edgar controlled the fight with good movement and striking. All three judges scored the fight for Edgar.

Back to Welterweight and Break

Penn fought Matt Hughes for a third time at UFC 123. Penn won by knockout in just 21 seconds of the first round. He earned the "Knockout of the Night" award.

Penn was then set to fight Jon Fitch at UFC 127. Penn surprised Fitch by taking him to the ground. The fight ended in a draw. Penn said he would gladly have a rematch, but the UFC was not interested.

Penn was supposed to fight Carlos Condit at UFC 137. However, Condit was moved to another fight. Penn then fought Nick Diaz in the main event. Penn lost by unanimous decision. After the loss, Penn announced his retirement. He said he couldn't perform at the top level anymore.

A few months later, Penn hinted at a return to MMA. UFC President Dana White said Penn deserved to be in the UFC Hall of Fame. He called Penn a pioneer for the lightweight division. In 2012, Penn announced he would return to fight Rory MacDonald. Penn lost the fight by unanimous decision. Dana White suggested Penn retire, but Penn was still unsure about his future.

Move to Featherweight and Later Fights

In September 2013, it was announced that Penn would return. He moved to the Featherweight division. He coached against Frankie Edgar on The Ultimate Fighter season 19. This was Penn's second time as a head coach on the show.

The two coaches fought for the third time at The Ultimate Fighter: Team Edgar vs. Team Penn#The Ultimate Fighter 19 Finale on July 6, 2014. Penn lost the fight by TKO in the third round. After the fight, Penn announced his retirement again. Dana White praised Penn's legacy, saying he built the lightweight division.

In January 2016, Penn announced he would return to fighting again. His return was delayed due to an investigation. He was then scheduled to fight Dennis Siver at UFC 199. However, Siver got injured. Penn was then removed from the card because he used a medically administered IV during a non-fight period, which was against new rules.

Penn was supposed to fight Ricardo Lamas in October 2016, but he pulled out due to an injury. The event was then canceled. Penn finally returned in early 2017. He faced Yair Rodríguez at UFC Fight Night 103. Penn lost by TKO in the second round.

He then fought Dennis Siver on June 25, 2017, at UFC Fight Night 112. Penn lost by majority decision. For his next fight, Penn returned to lightweight. He faced Ryan Hall at UFC 232 in December 2018. Penn lost by a heel hook submission in the first round.

Penn's last fight was against Clay Guida at UFC 237 on May 11, 2019. He lost by unanimous decision. In September 2019, Penn was released from the UFC.

Personal Life

Penn autographing a copy of his autobiography, Why I Fight

Penn's nickname "B.J." comes from "Baby Jay." He is the youngest of three brothers named "Jay Dee Penn." His father is Irish and English, and his mother is Hawaiian and Korean.

Penn is very proud of his Hawaiian background. He often plays Hawaiian music when he enters the fighting arena. This is a tribute to his heritage and respect for the sport. He also feels connected to his Korean roots. He has visited South Korea to hold seminars. Penn believes his "hot temper" from his Korean side helps him in fights.

Penn has two daughters. He is the co-author of Mixed Martial Arts: The Book of Knowledge, a book about MMA. He also wrote his autobiography, Why I Fight: The Belt is Just an Accessory, in 2010. The book became a New York Times bestseller. Penn also appeared in the film Never Surrender in 2009.

Penn ran for governor of Hawaii in 2022 but lost in the Republican primary. In 2024, he ran for the Hawaii County Council.

Legacy and Influence

B.J. Penn became one of the biggest stars in MMA history. He was the main fighter in many UFC events. Penn was known for being outspoken. His influence helped make the UFC popular around the world. He also supported drug testing in the sport. He was the first to use an independent foundation, VADA, to monitor against performance-enhancing drugs.

Penn is recognized for helping the lightweight division become popular. He helped turn the weight class into one of the UFC's most popular. His nickname, The Prodigy, came from his amazing achievements in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. He earned his black belt in less than three years. He then won the black belt division at the World Jiu-Jitsu Championship just three weeks later. This is a huge accomplishment, as it usually takes ten years or more to get a black belt.

The UFC's gym in Honolulu, Hawaii, 'UFC Gym BJ Penn' , is named after him. It is one of the largest and most successful gyms in Hawaii. Penn is also featured in the UFC "Evolution" pay-per-view introduction.

Ranking in MMA History

Penn is widely considered one of the greatest lightweight (155 lbs) fighters ever. He is also seen as one of the best Welterweight (170 lbs) fighters. This is because of his fights against Georges St-Pierre and Matt Hughes. At one point, Penn was ranked number one in both divisions at the same time.

Famous boxing coach Freddie Roach called Penn the best boxer in all of mixed martial arts. Former UFC Middleweight Champion Anderson Silva believes Penn is the greatest pound-for-pound fighter ever. UFC Hall of Famer Mark Coleman sees Penn as his idol. Penn was also ranked in the top five of FightersOnly! Magazine's '100 Greatest Fighters in History'.

UFC Hall of Fame

In May 2015, it was announced that B.J. Penn would be inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame. He joined the Modern Category during the International Fight Week.

Championships and Accomplishments

1 Penn unofficially unified the UFC Lightweight Championship when he defeated Sean Sherk at UFC 84.

Mixed Martial Arts Record

Pay-per-view Bouts

Filmography

Film and Television

Video Games

Images for kids

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  Penn in 2019

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  Penn on the cover of KoreAm magazine

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  Penn autographing his autobiography, Why I Fight

See also

In Spanish: B.J. Penn para niños

• List of UFC champions
• List of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu practitioners