Boxing & Martial Arts Codexery

B.J. Penn

First non-Brazilian world jiu-jitsu champion and two-division UFC titleholder.

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During the early phase of his professional fighting career, Penn was regarded as being among the elite pound-for-pound mixed martial artists globally.[1]

Key facts and history

Penn later won the UFC Lightweight Championship by defeating Joe Stevenson at UFC 80 on January 19, 2008.[2] His introduction to Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu came at seventeen years old through his neighbor Tom Callos.[3] Penn's first UFC appearance occurred on May 24, 2001, at UFC 31, where he defeated Joey Gilbert.[4] Before losing his lightweight title to Frankie Edgar, Penn successfully defended that championship a record three times.[5][6]

The UFC 41 Lightweight Tournament final between Penn and Caol Uno resulted in a draw.[7] Among the fighters Penn has beaten are Din Thomas, Caol Uno, Paul Creighton, and Matt Serra.[1]

What the cited sources add

It also states that Penn earned his purple belt from Ralph Gracie and his black belt from André Pederneiras in 2000.[8] The article further reports that Penn finished 3rd in the brown belt division in 1999 and 2nd in the blue belt division in 1998.[9] Penn's achievements at the World Jiu-Jitsu Championship drew the UFC's interest, which led him to transition into mixed martial arts.[4]

References

  1. Wikipedia, "B.J. Penn" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: "BJ Penn : Official MMA Fight Record (16-10-2)", June 5, 2012 (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
  2. Wikipedia, "B.J. Penn" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Sherdog.com, "Sherdog's Miscellaneous Awards for 2008", Sherdog.com; Staff, "UFC Issues $140,000 in UFC 80 'Fight Night' Bonuses", mmajunkie.usatoday.com, 2008-01-20; Smith, "UFC 80: B.J. Penn Beats Joe Stevenson, Wins Lightweight Championship in Bloody Battle", AOL Sports, January 19, 2008 (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
  3. Wikipedia, "B.J. Penn" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: "BJ Penn", bjpenn.com, December 2017; "BJ Penn: Outside the Octagon", September 7, 2010; "What is Tom Callos To BJ Penn?", Hawaiisportspage.com; Callos, "Genesis of "The Prodigy", Blackbeltmag.com, February 10, 2009; "What is Tom Callos To BJ Penn?", Hawaiisportspage.com; Callos, "Genesis of "The Prodigy", Blackbeltmag.com, February 10, 2009 (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
  4. Wikipedia, "B.J. Penn" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Iole, "Penn focused on nurturing talent, not wasting it", Yahoo! Sports, January 28, 2008; Iole, "Penn focused on nurturing talent, not wasting it", Yahoo! Sports, January 28, 2008; Chiappetta, "Focused BJ Penn ready to make history", NBCSports.com, February 13, 2008; Sloan, "Penn avenges 2002 loss to Pulver", ESPN / Sherdog.com, June 26, 2007; Chiappetta, "Focused BJ Penn ready to make history", NBCSports.com, February 13, 2008; Chiappetta, "Focused BJ Penn ready to make history", NBCSports.com, February 13, 2008 (we also read that source) en.wikipedia.org
  5. Wikipedia, "B.J. Penn" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: O'Dowd, "BJ Penn: Truly Untouchable at 155lbs?", Bleacher Report (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
  6. Wikipedia, "B.J. Penn" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: "Penn Dominates, Finishes Sanchez at UFC 107", sherdog.com, December 12, 2009; "Dana White proud of new BJ Penn", FiveKnuckles.com (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
  7. Wikipedia, "B.J. Penn" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Sherdog.com, "MMA in 2003: Peering Into the Rearview"; Rabey, "Sean Sherk Wants Top Contender When He Returns", Addicted MMA, July 25, 2011; Rick, "UFC Great B.J. Penn Making Improbable Return at Featherweight For Frankie Edgar Trilogy", Rant Sports (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
  8. Wikipedia, "B.J. Penn" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Hirth, "K-1 Hawaii Preview: Penn Versus Gracie", Sherdog.com, July 28, 2005; Hirth, "K-1 Hawaii Preview: Penn Versus Gracie", Sherdog.com, July 28, 2005; "Biography", BJPenn.com (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
  9. Wikipedia, "B.J. Penn" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Chiappetta, "Focused BJ Penn ready to make history", NBCSports.com, February 13, 2008; "UFC 137 Results: 5 Significant Achievements from BJ Penn's Career", BleacherReport, October 30, 2011 (we also read that source) en.wikipedia.org

Each numbered sentence above was checked against the source it cites before publication. Sentences citing Wikipedia adapt text from the English Wikipedia article B.J. Penn (contributors), used under CC BY-SA 4.0; this entry is available under the same licence. Other sources were used for facts only; no text or images are copied from them.

Career statistics and honours

Medals

Tables copied from the source article, totals included as the source gives them: Wikipedia: B.J. Penn (CC BY-SA 4.0). Wide tables scroll sideways.

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Sources

Compiled from Wikipedia and the sources listed below. Text from Wikipedia is available under CC BY-SA 4.0; this entry is adapted from it.

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