B.J. Penn

B.J. Penn is an American who practices mixed martial arts as well as Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu  by profession. "B.J"  is his nickname and is short for "Baby Jay"! He began to train in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, at the young age of seventeen. Thereafter he trained under the guidance of Ralph Gracie. Penn has experience in this field and fought and won against many famous martial art fighters. Takanori Gomi, Jens Pulver, Caol Uno, Matt Serra, Rodrigo Gracie, Renzo Gracie, Matt Hughes are some of the few well-known fighters that he has defeated.  In the year 2000, Penn won in the black belt category of the World Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Championship. He is famous as one of the first American-born winners of this competition. He is also famous as a former Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) welterweight champion.

In the year 2001 he began his mixed martial arts career. Here he displayed powerful striking skills.  In 2003, at the UFC 41 tournament, Penn fought against Uno and unfortunately drew in the finals. This was a disappointment as they were hoping to crown him as the new champion, at this event. At UFC 46, Penn won with a crowning achievement in 2004. With this achievement Penn moved forward, in weight classes, challenged and won over  Matt Hughes at UFC . At UFC 56, in the earlier part of the year 2006, Penn made a come back as a top welterweight contender.

On September 23, 2006, at the UFC 63, Penn demonstrated his sportsmanship when he got into a rematch with Hughes, he took Hughes in a second round and in the fight sustained a rib injury. Thereafter, in the consequent rounds he appeared exhausted and missed a couple of punches. Here, Penn was taken to the mat by Hughes, and had many punches to his head, by Hughes who was in a side control position. It was here, in the third round, that John McCarthy, the referee stepped in and stopped the fight. This was the first ever incidence where Penn had been stopped in a fight.

Interestingly B.J.Penn has his own website which titles "knowledge is Power". On the website is an interview where Penn stated that by the third round  he could barely breathe and did not have any movement. In spite of his injuries and his state, Penn praised and congratulated Hughes, by commenting that he deserved to win and was a great fighter.

Penn is also know for his other qualities such as being a a successful coach. He coached and lead a team of lightweight fighters, for the Ultimate Fighter 5, this was held earlier this year (2007). At a rematch, he also fought Jens Pulver. Some sports websites have issued an announcement to the effect that B.J.Penn, at the UFC 80 which is to be held in England, will fight Joe Stevenson, for the lightweight title. 

B.J.Penn, at the K-1 MMA, fought and defeated Duan Ludwig. This was in 2004 and was Penn's first K-1 fight. Thereafter, moving up in weight class, Penn challenged and defeated the famous Rodrigo Gracie who was till that time, undefeated. In Japan, at the K-1 Hero's 1 function, in 2005, Penn fought lightweight Ryoto Machida, however he lost to him by way of decision.