UFC 137 Results: BJ Penn and the 5 Best Displays of Heart from 2011

If UFC 137 really was the final fight of BJ Penn’s career, he went out with a loss—but it may also have been the biggest display of heart we have ever seen from the 32-year-old former UFC welterweight and lightweight champion.

Nick Diaz used his large reach advantage to pick Penn apart with his boxing skills, but the Hawaiian stood in the pocket for almost the entire 15-minutes, exchanging with his younger foe in what has to be one of the most entertaining fights we have seen in quite some time.

Penn has never been accused of being the hardest worker in the sport, but his heart has never been questioned. This is a guy who would fight anyone, any time, anywhere—literally.

He’s not alone, either. In fact, we have seen quite a few of these gutsy performances in 2011 from some of Penn’s UFC co-workers. Let’s take a look at them as we count down the five best displays of heart from 2011. 

5. Frankie Edgar vs. Maynard III, UFC 136

Frankie Edgar was the No. 1 lightweight fighter in the world going into UFC 136. The only two blemishes on his otherwise spotless career came at the hands of fellow lightweight Gray Maynard who earned a victory over him back in 2008 and then proceeded to fight to a five-round draw with him at UFC 125.

In the final fight of the trilogy, Edgar earned the victory that had eluded him for so long—but it didn’t come easily.

The UFC lightweight champion escaped yet another near-knockout early in the bout as Maynard smashed him with punches. Edgar was able to escape what was likely another 10-8 round against Maynard and actually finished his challenger with punches of his own in Round 4.

4. Cheick Kongo vs. Pat Barry, UFC Live: Kongo vs. Barry

What will likely be considered the craziest fight of the year came on June 26, 2011 when heavyweight strikers Cheick Kongo and Pat Barry battled in what can only be described as an astonishing fight.

Barry rocked Kongo less than half way in the first round and shot in for the finish. He was so close to finishing, in fact, that it looked as if referee Dan Mirgliotta was pulling him off of Kongo at one point. He didn’t end up stopping the fight, though, and apparently it turned out to be the right call.

A stumbling Kongo fired back with a desperation punch that caught Barry right on the chin, knocking the former kickboxer out cold.

Kongo’s heart to stay in the fight was amazing, but it was even more impressive that he actually ended up winning!

3. Shane Carwin vs. Junior Dos Santos, UFC 131

As if taking a fight against a top-five heavyweight in the world wasn’t a good enough display of heart from a guy who had spent the previous 11 months outside of the cage, Shane Carwin’s heart became legendary after his performance in the fight itself.

An exhausted Carwin took a beating at the hands of Junior dos Santos early in the UFC 131 main event, leaving numerous cuts and bruises all over his face. By the time the third round was starting, Carwin’s face looked more like a Halloween horror mask than it did a human being’s face.

After being criticized for his lack of cardio in his previous fight against Brock Lesnar, Carwin valiantly came out in the third round and took it to dos Santos. While he lost the round on everyone’s card, the effort he put in was outstanding and should not be forgotten. 

2. BJ Penn vs. Nick Diaz, UFC 137

It appears as if we may have seen the last of BJ Penn when he dishearteningly told Joe Rogan in the post-fight interview that this would likely be “the last time you’ll see me in [the Octagon].”

If it is, though, he went out with one of the toughest performances of his career as he took what was the worst beating he has ever sustained, only to stay on his feet as he was repeatedly punched by the best boxer in the welterweight division.

Penn never gave up, never stopped fighting, never stopped answering punches with punches. He was completely out of energy and very obviously beaten down by the end of the fight, but the heart he showed in this one is something that will never be forgotten.

1. Frankie Edgar vs. Gray Maynard II

UFC 125 was branded “Resolution” with the rematch between Frankie Edgar and Gray Maynard set as the main event. Though Edgar was the champion of the lightweight division, it was Maynard who carried an undefeated professional record into the contest which included a victory over Edgar himself.

It looked as if Maynard was going to make it a perfect 2-0 against Edgar when he caught the champion with big punches in the first round. The champion’s knees buckled as Maynard unloaded on him with devastating punch after devastating punch, never allowing Edgar to regain his composure for longer than a few seconds.

Never has someone escaped so many near-knockouts in one round, only to shock everyone by battling back and earning a draw in what looked like it was going to be a very one-sided beating. But Edgar did it. In fact, he even won the fight 48-46 on one judge’s scorecard.

Though he didn’t actually walk out of the cage with a victory, Edgar was definitely the “winner” of the fight because he retained his UFC lightweight championship in what will go down as one of the greatest displays of heart ever shown inside the Octagon.