Georges St-Pierre vs B.J. Penn 2
GSP vs. Penn 2: The rematch at UFC 94 in Las Vegas.
Georges St-Pierre defeated B.J. Penn by split decision at UFC 58 to become the No. 1 contender for the UFC welterweight title.
- Championship
- UFC Welterweight Championship
- Result
- Georges St-Pierre won by unanimous decision
- Rounds
- 5
- Location
- Las Vegas, Nevada, USA
- Rematch of
- UFC 58 (GSP won by TKO, Round 2)
Lore & Background
The first fight between St-Pierre and Penn took place at UFC 58 on March 4, 2006. St-Pierre won by split decision. The rematch occurred at UFC 94 on January 31, 2009, at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA. St-Pierre won the rematch by TKO after the corner stoppage between rounds.
In Their Own Story
The arena hummed with a low, electric tension. Eighteen thousand people pressed against the cage, their breath fogging the steel in the cold Las Vegas night. Inside the octagon, the two men circled each other like sharks in a small pool of water. GSP's eyes were locked forward, jaw set, the familiar coiled readiness of a man who had been told he couldn't beat this opponent. Penn bounced on the balls of his feet, hands high, smiling that half-smile that meant he was already three steps ahead of the next punch. The bell rang. GSP surged. Penn slipped outside the jab, and the straight right snapped across GSP's temple like a whip cracking. The crowd roared. GSP reset, pressed forward, shot a takedown—Penn sprawled, sprawled again, and the Canadian's shoulder hit the canvas. For a moment the old script was back. But Penn's hands were already working, short combinations landing before GSP could frame. The round ended with both men breathing hard, both men smiling. Four more rounds of that. Pressure and evasion. Takedown and sprawl. A spinning back-fist that made the nosebleed spray. A body lock that bent Penn double. And then the final bell, and the silence before the decision, and the crowd erupting as Penn's name was called. GSP shook his hand, a genuine nod of respect. Two men who had just given everything, standing in the same cage, already planning the next chapter.
Reader's Guide
The rematch is listed as taking place at UFC 94, not UFC 123. The location is Las Vegas, Nevada, USA, not Auburn Hills, Michigan. The first meeting was at UFC 58, not UFC 94.
Did You Know?
- St-Pierre's first fight with Penn was at UFC 58, not UFC 94.
- The rematch at UFC 94 was St-Pierre's second title defense of his second welterweight championship reign.
- St-Pierre won the rematch by TKO after Penn's corner stopped the fight between rounds.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who won Georges St-Pierre vs B.J. Penn 2?
B.J. Penn took the UFC Welterweight Championship by unanimous decision after five full rounds. It was a complete reversal of their first meeting at UFC 98, where GSP had stopped Penn in the second round.
Where was GSP vs Penn 2 held?
The rematch took place in Las Vegas, Nevada, at UFC 126. It was contested for the UFC Welterweight Championship.
How many rounds did GSP vs Penn 2 last?
The fight went the full five-round distance, with Penn earning a unanimous decision from all three judges. That made it far longer than their first encounter, which ended in round two.
What made GSP vs Penn 2 different from their first fight?
In their first meeting, GSP's wrestling and pressure dominated and produced a second-round stoppage. In the rematch, Penn's patient counter-striking and elite footwork neutralized that pressure, flipping the tactical script entirely.
Why is GSP vs Penn 2 considered a must-watch fight?
It pitted two of MMA's most complete athletes against each other in a five-round tactical battle that fans still dissect years later. The fight crystallized the contrast between GSP's suffocating wrestling and Penn's elusive, creative striking, cementing both as generational talents.
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