When discussing the top martial artists in the world today many names come to mind.
GSP, Anderson Silva, and Fedor usually top everyone’s list. But there are other “masters” in their own right.
To be a champion is to be a master, albeit a master of one’s weight class or division. The individual holding the title becomes the measuring stick to which everyone else is compared.
Right now, the 155lb weight class in the UFC is ruled by the never quiet, B.J. “The Prodigy” Penn.
While some have poked fun at “Baby J” for his recent actions when it came to "greasegate," one major fact remains...B.J. Penn is one of the best martial artists in the world today.
With the UFC Lightweight title up for grabs in Philadelphia at UFC 101 against Kenny Florian right around the corner, here’s B.J. Penn’s top ten moments that have helped form his legacy.
10. No UFC, No Problem
Early on in B.J.’s career he met the future Pride lightweight champion in Takanori Gomi at the Rumble on the Rock, an MMA organization promoted by Penn’s brother in Hawaii.
Coming into the fight Gomi was 14-1 only tasting defeat to Joachim Hansen by decision. Penn was 5-1-1 and just left the UFC after fighting Caol Uno to a draw in a tournament style final for the UFC lightweight title.
B.J. wouldn’t need a title or a UFC contract to gain a huge victory by rear naked choke in the third round in front of his hometown crowd in Hawaii. This win would catapult B.J. Penn to the biggest fight of his career, at that point, a welterweight title match against Matt Hughes at UFC 46.
Penn was a natural. A guy who was a born fighter. Not an athlete who can fight but was bred to brawl.
As his record and UFC run made that statement seem more and more true, it was finishing off a very good and experienced fighter outside of the UFC that proved something else.
B.J. Penn would not let the UFC, or any organization dictate what he wanted to do. It was B.J.'s way first.
This would end up being a blessing and a curse for the future of “Baby Jay.”
9. The UFC Wake-Up Call
B.J. Penn would return to the UFC to fight Georges St. Pierre at UFC 58. It was billed as a number one contender bout for a shot at Matt Hughes’ Welterweight title.
The French Canadian was dominated by the Hawaiian in the first round, bloodying and bruising up St. Pierre to the likes that we still haven’t seen to this day. However, GSP would fight back to outwork the “Prodigy” for a split decision victory while demonstrating something B.J. would have to take serious notice of.
This has nothing to do with heart, but rather conditioning and work rate in training.
B.J. got tired, simple as that. And no matter how great of a fighter you are, if you gas out, you will lose to someone who still has fuel in their tank.
Lack of work and reliance on pure talent would become B.J.’s M.O. for the future.
The strategy to beat him was not to take him down or stand up with him, but rather to tire him out.
Mixed martial artists were growing as quickly as the sport was. It was a new day with new breeds of fighters. And now, more effort and work rate will be needed to become or stay a champion at this level.
Here, the “Prodigy” got his first taste of a wake-up call.
8. The Eye Opening Arrival
In May of 2001, the UFC noticed Penn after he was competing in numerous grappling and jiu jitsu tournaments.
It was time for B.J. to try his hands at mixed martial arts.
A natural fit, Penn would stop his first two opponents, Joey Gilbert (UFC 31) and Din Thomas (UFC 32). Next for the newcomer would be Japanese star Caol Uno at UFC 34.
The bell rang to begin the fight and Uno flew across the octagon with a leaping kick that Penn side stepped...then he would unleash.
After a vicious striking combination where Uno ate numerous punches as his body was embedded awkwardly in the cage, the fight was stopped just 11 seconds in.
The image after the fight would stick in everyone’s minds just as clear as the action they just witnessed. A very amped up Penn sprinted out of the cage and into the back.
A new type of fighter had arrived and stamped his unique presence on the world of mixed martial arts. This was what the Hawaiian native was here to do.
He didn’t need to fight.
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