On a night where B.J. Penn, the man hailed as “The Prodigy” could take another step in establishing his legacy, he did not disappoint.
Challenger Joe Stevenson was battered from start to finish and Penn was crowned the new lightweight champion.
Seconds into the bout, Stevenson was hit with a Penn uppercut that sent him backwards onto the mat and from then on he seemed overwhelmed.
Stevenson although tough and resilient, was dominated throughout the fight by Penn’s takedowns, ground-n-pound, and jiu-jitsu.
With blood pouring down his face and gushing from his wounds, Stevenson was forced to tap out due to a rear-naked choke by Penn at 4:02 of the second round, in what was a gruesome sight. Penn gained distinction by joining Randy Couture as the only two fighters in Ultimate Fighting Championship history to hold belts in two different weight classes (the other class was welterweight, where he choked out Matt Hughes to win it in 2004.)
Often criticized for his poor work ethic and weak conditioning, Penn looked tremendous in both areas during his fight. At no point did Penn appear tired and his body was lean and chiseled in a far cry from his once puffy exterior.
When in shape, Penn is undoubtedly one of the most talented and best fighters in the world. Penn is well rounded and despite being a jiu-jitsu black belt, has surprisingly heavy hands and was able to establish a dominant jab against Stevenson. It’s hard to envision him being beat when focused and in shape.
UFC President Dana White has already announced that Penn’s next fight will be against former champion Sean Sherk, who was stripped of his belt in the midst of a positive steroid test controversy. Sherk poses an interest challenge to Penn because of his exceptional wrestling.
Arguably the weakest part of Penn’s game is his take-down defense which Sherk exploits in all his opponents. Despite the challenge Penn seems unfazed, telling Sherk “you're dead,” during his post-fight interview.
And with the way Penn has looked in his previous two fights, it’s hard to argue.
With another masterful performance and championship, Penn has cemented himself a place in mixed martial arts history and has moved closer to living up to his nickname.
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