UFC 104
The Canadian Caged Beast shut the door on the Prodigal Son and declared his middleweight throne untouchable.
Penn in a highly anticipated rematch. The bout, framed as the second chapter in one of the sport's most compelling rivalries of the late 2000s, showcased GSP's relentless pressure and technical precision against Penn's explosive counter-punching and grappling threat. GSP's dominant performance reinforced his reputation as the most complete fighter in the sport, while the card as a whole featured a deep roster of contenders that underscored the depth of the UFC's middleweight and adjacent divisions.
Quick Facts
- Main event
- Georges St-Pierre (c) vs. B.J. Penn 2
- Championship
- UFC Middleweight Championship
- Result
- St-Pierre won by unanimous decision
- Year
- 2009
- Rematch context
- First meeting at UFC 91 (2008), also won by St-Pierre
- St-pierre status
- Undisputed Middleweight Champion, on a long winning streak
Lore & Background
The rivalry between Georges St-Pierre and B.J. Penn had been building since their first meeting at UFC 91 in early 2008, a split-decision victory that left Penn and his fans arguing the outcome. The fight became a masterclass in contrast—GSP's patient, grinding forward pressure and technical striking against Penn's burst speed, creative takedowns, and willingness to fight on the ground. St-Pierre's strategy was clear from the opening bell: cut the ring, keep Penn off balance, and never let the fight settle into the exchanges Penn thrived in.
The unanimous decision, while not a knockout, was widely regarded as a comfortable win that validated GSP's status as the most well-rounded fighter in the middleweight division. For Penn, it was a second loss to the same opponent in a short span, a wound that would linger in his career narrative for years. The event reinforced the promotional formula that made the late 2000s a golden era for mixed martial arts: a dominant champion, a credible challenger, and a card deep enough to satisfy hardcore fans from the first bout to the last.
Reader's Guide
B.J. Penn 2 (U) – Unanimous Decision – UFC Middleweight Championship
Rematch of the UFC 91 split-decision bout; GSP's second consecutive win over Penn sealed the rivalry's first chapter. • GSP entered on a long, unbroken winning streak and emerged with his undisputed middleweight title intact, reinforcing his status as the division's standard-bearer. • The card featured a deep slate of middleweight and adjacent-division contenders, reflecting the UFC's post-restructuring push to build depth in every weight class. • Widely cited as a defining performance in GSP's career: not a highlight-reel knockout, but a complete, controlled dismantling that left little room for debate.
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