B.J. Penn | |
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Born | Jay Dee Penn December 13, 1978 Kailua, Hawaii,U.S. |
Other names | The Prodigy, Baby Jay |
Residence | Hilo, Hawaii |
Nationality | American |
Height | 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m) |
Weight | 145 lb (66 kg; 10 st 5 lb) |
Division |
Featherweight (2014-present) Lightweight (2001-2003, 2007-2010) Welterweight (2004-2006, 2010-2012) Middleweight (2004-2005) Openweight (2005) |
Reach | 70 in (178 cm) |
Style | Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Wrestling, Boxing |
Team | B.J. Penn's MMA Nova União (formerly) Jackson's MMA RVCA Training Centre |
Rank | 5th Degree Black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu |
Years active | 2001–2014, 2017–present |
Mixed martial arts record | |
Total | 29 |
Wins | 16 |
By knockout | 7 |
By submission | 6 |
By decision | 3 |
Losses | 11 |
By knockout | 4 |
By decision | 7 |
Draws | 2 |
Other information | |
Children | 2 |
Notable school(s) | Hilo High School |
Website | http://www.bjpenn.com/ |
Mixed martial arts record from Sherdog | |
|
Medal record | ||
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Representing United States | ||
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu | ||
World Jiu-Jitsu Championship | ||
2000 Rio de Janeiro | -67kg | |
1999 Rio de Janeiro | -73kg | |
1998 Rio de Janeiro | -67kg |
Jay Dee "B.J." Penn (born December 13, 1978) is an American professional mixed martial artist and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu practitioner. Penn debuted and competed in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), and later in K-1. Prior to fighting for the UFC, he became the first American Gold medalist of the World Jiu-Jitsu Championship. In mixed martial arts, Penn has competed in the Featherweight, Lightweight, Welterweight, and Middleweight divisions. As a former UFC Lightweight Champion and UFC Welterweight Champion, he is one of only three fighters in UFC history to win titles in multiple weight classes. Penn was also a Co-champion in the UFC 41 Lightweight Tournament, due to an eventual draw opposite Caol Uno in the tournament finale. Through his tenures as champion, Penn unofficially unified the UFC Lightweight Championship (against Sean Sherk) and broke the all-time lightweight title defense record. Penn was inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame, as the inaugural inductee in the Modern-Era Wing by career-long rival Matt Hughes, during International Fight Week in July 2015.