Athletes - B.J. Penn

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	Athletes - B.J. Penn

Jay Dee "B.J." Penn (born December 12,1978 in Hilo, Hawaii) is an American professional mixed martial arts fighter and a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu practitioner. He is the first American-born winner of World Brazilian Jiu Jitsu championship (Mundial) black belt category, won in 2000. His nickname "B.J" comes from "Baby Jay", as he the youngest male of his siblings, all of whom are named "Jay".

Biography

Youth

At the age of seventeen B.J. 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.

Ultimate Fighting Championship

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 UFC lightweight champion Jens Pulver.

In 2003, after Pulver left the UFC and relinquished his title, a tournament to crown a new champion flopped when Penn fought Uno to a draw in the finals at UFC 41, a failure which caused the UFC to later suspend its lightweight division. Penn bounced back later in the year with an impressive victory over Takanori Gomi, Japan's number-one ranked lightweight fighter at Rumble on the Rock, Penn's self-promoted MMA event.

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.

Leaving the UFC

Shortly after defeating Matt Hughes, the new champion signed to fight in the K-1 organization. The UFC promptly stripped him of the welterweight title belt, claiming Penn breached his contract and that the signing constituted him refusing to defend his title. Penn filed a suit against the UFC and publicized his side of the conflict, claiming his UFC contract had already expired. Penn filed a motion to stop the UFC from awarding a new welterweight title, that motion was denied. ,

In his first K-1 fight, Penn fought again at welterweight (170 lb) and defeated Duane Ludwig at the 2004 K-1 MMa Romanex show in under five minutes. Following that fight, Penn moved up in weight class to face the undefeated Rodrigo Gracie at middleweight (185 pounds). Penn won by decision, extending his winning streak to four fights and his undefeated streak to seven.

In 2005, at the K-1 Hero's 1 event in Japan, Penn controversially faced heavyweight Ryoto Machida, losing by decision. Later that year at K-1 World Grand Prix Hawaii, Penn returned to middleweight to face Renzo Gracie and won by unanimous decision.

Return to the UFC

In early 2006 at UFC 56, UFC president Dana White announced that Penn and the UFC have agreed to a settlement and Penn was to return as a top welterweight contender. Penn redebuted on March 4 at UFC 58 and lost against Georges St. Pierre in a split decision. Penn lost the fight due to several take downs and a lacking of aggressiveness, which allowed for St. Pierre to dictacte the pace of the fight. Although Penn did cause more damage to his opponent, it was only in the first round. BJ was free of marks at the end of the contest and in contrast, St. Pierre was bleeding badly from a cut and swollen eye (cause by an eye poke from BJ Penn) and a cut on his nose.

Career

# May, 1997 Enters first tournament in Bakersfield, CA and wins both his weight and the open weight class. # June, 1997 Enters the Joe Moreira tournament as a blue belt winning his weight class. # June, 1997 Wins submission grappling tournament # 1997 Enters Brasileiro and places 4th in his weight class, blue belt category # 1997 Continues to enter tournaments upon return from Brazil placing first consistently # 1997 Receives blue belt from Ralph Gracie # 1998 Silver medal at Brazilian Mundials competition in his weight division; receives purple belt upon return # 1999 Bronze medal at Brazilian Mundials in heavier weight class as a newly promoted Nova Uniao brown belt. # 1999 Gold medal, Copa Pacific Tournament in Los Angeles # 1999 Receives Black belt from Andre Pederneiras just 3 weeks before the 2000 Mundials # 1999 Joins Nova Uniao Competition Team (reserved for the four top team competitors) # 2000 First non-Brazilian to win gold medal in black belt division of the Mundial World Championships held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. # 2001 Enters UFC 31 preliminary match and beats Joey Gilbert by referee stoppage at 4:58 # 2001 Beats Din Thomas by knockout in 2:17 at UFC 32 # 2001 Beats Caol Uno by knockout in :11 at UFC 34 # 2002 Loss to Jens Pulver by majority decision at UFC 35 # 2002 Beats Paul Creighton by TKO at UFC 37 # 2002 Beats Matt Serra by unanimous decision at UFC 39 # 2003 Draws to Caol Uno at UFC 41 # 2003 Beats Takanori Gomi by rear naked choke at Rumble on the Rock 4 making BJ the World Lightweight Champion # 2004 Beats 5 time-defending Welterweight Champion Matt Hughes by rear naked choke at UFC 46 making BJ the UFC Welterweight Champion. # 2004 Beats Duane Ludwig by arm triangle at K-1 MMa Romanex # 2004 Beats Rodrigo Gracie by decision at Rumble on the Rock # 2005 Loss to Ryoto Machida by unanimous decision at K-1 Hero's 1 # 2005 Beats Renzo Gracie by decision at K1 World Grand Prix in Hawaii # 2006 Loss to Georges St. Pierre by split decision at UFC 58: USA Vs. Canada

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