Lightweight · Men

BJ Penn

“The Prodigy”
United States BJ Penn's MMA debut 2001
Held by Jon Jones
Form L L L L L
Elo 1,529 peak 2,016 · 12 Dec 2009 487 below it 904 days at No. 1 lightweight
Tapology Sherdog id 2297071
16-14-2pro record
7L current streak
1,972best win, Elo
1,683average opponent
-- born 13 Dec 1978
69.0" / 70.0" height / reach

Elo history

Hover for the fight at that point; dots are wins and losses; the band is the typical prime for men at lightweight, ages 27–34

Record

-- – --
Rating by method KO1,218 Sub1,226 Dec1,175

Style profile

Each axis is a percentile of lightweight fighters with five pro bouts (7,194 of them); further out is better. Hover a point for the number.
KO Submission Decision Finishes Durability Win rate Opposition Activity
From the record and the method ratings
Strikes landed Accuracy Absorbed Strike defence Takedowns TD defence Control Sub attempts Knockdowns
In the cage: 32 bouts with the UFC's statistics, 416 minutes, against 295 in the class

Similar careers

Who looked like this after 30 pro bouts, and what happened next

After 30 bouts (2017): 1,601 Elo, 16-12, aged 38, average opponent 1,682.

  1. Antônio Silva then 1,557, 19-10, aged 37 · Heavyweight 0-5 after peaked 1,476 ▼
  2. Rousimar Palhares then 1,567, 19-10, aged 39 · Welterweight 0-3 after peaked 1,447 ▼
  3. Hiroyuki Takaya then 1,553, 17-11, aged 36 6-4 after peaked 1,730 ▲
  4. Junior dos Santos then 1,726, 21-9, aged 37 · Heavyweight 2-2 after peaked 1,681 ▼
  5. Michihiro Omigawa then 1,593, 15-14, aged 40 3-1 after peaked 1,577 ▼
  6. Tito Ortiz then 1,787, 18-11, aged 40 · Light Heavyweight 3-1 after peaked 1,811

Best wins

By the opponent's Elo on the night
  1. Kenny Florian Submission R4 · 8 Aug 2009 · Ultimate Fighting Championship 1,972
  2. Matt Hughes Submission R1 · 31 Jan 2004 · Ultimate Fighting Championship 1,858
  3. Sean Sherk KO/TKO R3 · 24 May 2008 · Ultimate Fighting Championship 1,849
  4. Matt Hughes KO/TKO R1 · 20 Nov 2010 · Ultimate Fighting Championship 1,837
  5. Diego Sanchez KO/TKO R5 · 12 Dec 2009 · Ultimate Fighting Championship 1,818

Losses

The latest 5 of 14
  1. Clay Guida Decision R3 · 11 May 2019 · Ultimate Fighting Championship 1,720
  2. Ryan Hall Submission R1 · 29 Dec 2018 · Ultimate Fighting Championship 1,687
  3. Dennis Siver Decision R3 · 25 Jun 2017 · Ultimate Fighting Championship 1,690
  4. Yair Rodriguez KO/TKO R2 · 15 Jan 2017 · Ultimate Fighting Championship 1,741
  5. Frankie Edgar KO/TKO R3 · 6 Jul 2014 · Ultimate Fighting Championship 2,049

Rivalries

Opponents met more than once; the series from this side All rivalries →
  1. Frankie Edgar 3 meetings · 2010, 2010, 2014 0–3
  2. Matt Hughes 3 meetings · 2004, 2006, 2010 2–1
  3. Georges St-Pierre 2 meetings · 2006, 2009 0–2
  4. Jens Pulver 2 meetings · 2002, 2007 1–1
  5. Caol Uno 2 meetings · 2001, 2003 1–0

Fight history

32 bouts, newest first. Hover a heading for what it means.
# Date Result Opponent Weight class Method Round Score Elo ± Opp Elo Odds Event
32 11 May 201940.4 yrs L16-14-2 Clay Guida 34-18 · 37.4 yrs Lightweight DecisionUnanimous R315:00 0.28* 1,523→1,529 +6 1,720 +346→+451 UFC 237: Namajunas vs. Andrade Ultimate Fighting Championship
31 29 Dec 201840.0 yrs L16-13-2 Ryan Hall 8-2 · 33.8 yrs Lightweight SubHeel Hook R12:46 0.00 1,586→1,523 -63 1,687 +322→+349 UFC 232: Jones vs. Gustafsson 2 Ultimate Fighting Championship
30 25 Jun 201738.5 yrs L16-12-2 Dennis Siver 22-11 (1) · 38.4 yrs Featherweight DecisionMajority R315:00 0.25* 1,630→1,601 -29 1,690 +210→+155 UFC Fight Night 112: Chiesa vs. Lee Ultimate Fighting Championship
29 15 Jan 201738.1 yrs L16-11-2 Yair Rodriguez 16-1 · 24.3 yrs Featherweight KO/TKOHead Kick & Punches R25:24 0.00 1,709→1,630 -80 1,741 +350→+330 UFC Fight Night 103: Rodriguez vs. Penn Ultimate Fighting Championship
28 6 Jul 201435.6 yrs L16-10-2 Frankie Edgar 16-4-1 · 32.7 yrs Featherweight KO/TKOPunches R314:16 0.00 1,802→1,768 -34 2,049 +350→+350 UFC: The Ultimate Fighter 19 Finale Ultimate Fighting Championship
27 8 Dec 201234.0 yrs L16-9-2 Rory MacDonald 13-1 · 23.4 yrs Welterweight DecisionUnanimous R315:00 0.00* 1,911→1,826 -85 1,920 +222→+222 UFC on Fox 5: Henderson vs. Diaz Ultimate Fighting Championship
26 29 Oct 201132.9 yrs L16-8-2 Nick Diaz 25-7 (1) · 28.2 yrs Welterweight DecisionUnanimous R315:00 0.21* 1,948→1,916 -32 2,021 – UFC 137: Penn vs. Diaz Ultimate Fighting Championship
25 26 Feb 201132.2 yrs D16-7-2 Jon Fitch 24-3 (1) · 33.0 yrs Welterweight DecisionMajority R315:00 0.36* 1,960→1,948 -12 2,012 – UFC 127: Penn vs. Fitch Ultimate Fighting Championship
24 20 Nov 201031.9 yrs W16-7-1 Matt Hughes 45-7 · 37.1 yrs Welterweight KO/TKOPunches R10:21 1.00 1,885→1,960 +76 1,837 – UFC 123: Rampage vs. Machida Ultimate Fighting Championship
23 28 Aug 201031.7 yrs L15-7-1 Frankie Edgar 13-1 · 28.9 yrs Lightweighttitle DecisionUnanimous R525:00 0.04* 1,993→1,885 -108 1,876 – UFC 118: Edgar vs. Penn 2 Ultimate Fighting Championship
22 10 Apr 201031.3 yrs L15-6-1 Frankie Edgar 12-1 · 28.5 yrs Lightweighttitle DecisionUnanimous R525:00 0.59* 2,016→1,993 -22 1,854 – UFC 112: Invincible Ultimate Fighting Championship
21 12 Dec 200931.0 yrs W15-5-1 Diego Sanchez 24-2 · 27.9 yrs Lightweighttitle KO/TKODoctor Stoppage R522:37 1.00 1,962→2,016 +53 1,818 – UFC 107: Penn vs. Sanchez Ultimate Fighting Championship
20 8 Aug 200930.7 yrs W14-5-1 Kenny Florian 12-3 · 33.2 yrs Lightweighttitle SubRear Naked Choke R418:54 1.00 1,844→1,962 +118 1,972 – UFC 101: Declaration Ultimate Fighting Championship
19 31 Jan 200930.1 yrs L13-5-1 Georges St-Pierre 17-2 · 27.7 yrs Welterweighttitle KO/TKOCorner Stoppage R420:00 0.00 1,895→1,844 -51 2,049 – UFC 94: St. Pierre vs. Penn 2 Ultimate Fighting Championship
18 24 May 200829.4 yrs W13-4-1 Sean Sherk 33-2-1 · 34.8 yrs Lightweighttitle KO/TKOKnee & Punches R315:00 1.00 1,794→1,895 +101 1,849 – UFC 84: Ill Will Ultimate Fighting Championship
17 19 Jan 200829.1 yrs W12-4-1 Joe Stevenson 30-7 · 25.6 yrs Lightweighttitle SubRear Naked Choke R29:02 1.00 1,680→1,794 +114 1,788 – UFC 80: Rapid Fire Ultimate Fighting Championship
16 23 Jun 200728.5 yrs W11-4-1 Jens Pulver 21-7-1 · 32.5 yrs Lightweight SubRear Naked Choke R28:12 1.00 1,632→1,680 +48 1,464 – UFC: The Ultimate Fighter 5 Finale Ultimate Fighting Championship
15 23 Sep 200627.8 yrs L10-4-1 Matt Hughes 40-4 · 32.9 yrs Welterweighttitle KO/TKOPunches R313:53 0.00 1,671→1,632 -39 1,886 – UFC 63: Hughes vs. Penn 2 Ultimate Fighting Championship
14 4 Mar 200627.2 yrs L10-3-1 Georges St-Pierre 11-1 · 24.8 yrs Welterweight DecisionSplit R315:00 0.38* 1,652→1,671 +19 1,827 – UFC 58: USA vs. Canada Ultimate Fighting Championship
13 29 Jul 200526.6 yrs W10-2-1 Renzo Gracie 10-5-1 (1) · 38.4 yrs Lightweight DecisionUnanimous R315:00 0.84 1,662→1,652 -10 1,287 – K-1 - World Grand Prix Hawaii K-1
12 26 Mar 200526.3 yrs L9-2-1 Lyoto Machida 5-0 · 26.8 yrs Heavyweight DecisionUnanimous R315:00 0.16 1,793→1,662 -131 1,391 – K-1 HERO'S: LeBanner vs. Akiyama K-1
11 20 Nov 200425.9 yrs W9-1-1 Rodrigo Gracie 5-0 · 29.7 yrs Middleweight DecisionUnanimous R315:00 0.84 1,793→1,793 +0 1,506 – Rumble on the Rock 6 Rumble on the Rock
10 22 May 200425.4 yrs W8-1-1 Duane Ludwig 10-2 · 25.8 yrs Lightweight SubArm Triangle Choke R11:45 1.00 1,769→1,793 +24 1,449 – K-1: Romanex 2004 K-1
9 31 Jan 200425.1 yrs W7-1-1 Matt Hughes 35-3 · 30.3 yrs Welterweighttitle SubRear Naked Choke R14:39 1.00 1,631→1,769 +138 1,858 – UFC 46: Supernatural Ultimate Fighting Championship
8 10 Oct 200324.8 yrs W6-1-1 Takanori Gomi 14-1 · 25.0 yrs Lightweight SubRear Naked Choke R312:35 1.00 1,543→1,631 +88 1,546 – Rumble on the Rock 4 Rumble on the Rock
7 28 Feb 200324.2 yrs D5-1-1 Caol Uno 15-5-2 · 27.8 yrs Lightweighttitle DecisionSplit R525:00 0.63* 1,523→1,543 +20 1,510 – UFC 41: Onslaught Ultimate Fighting Championship
6 27 Sep 200223.8 yrs W5-1 Matt Serra 6-1 · 28.3 yrs Lightweight DecisionUnanimous R315:00 0.61* 1,536→1,523 -13 1,405 – UFC 39: The Warriors Return Ultimate Fighting Championship
5 10 May 200223.4 yrs W4-1 Paul Creighton 3-0 · 32.1 yrs Lightweight KO/TKOPunches R28:23 1.00 1,512→1,536 +24 1,192 – UFC 37: High Impact Ultimate Fighting Championship
4 11 Jan 200223.1 yrs L3-1 Jens Pulver 11-2-1 · 27.1 yrs Lightweighttitle DecisionMajority R525:00 0.37* 1,534→1,512 -22 1,533 – UFC 35: Throwdown Ultimate Fighting Championship
3 2 Nov 200122.9 yrs W3-0 Caol Uno 13-4-2 · 26.5 yrs Lightweight KO/TKOPunches R10:11 1.00 1,419→1,534 +115 1,532 – UFC 34: High Voltage Ultimate Fighting Championship
2 29 Jun 200122.5 yrs W2-0 Din Thomas 12-1 · 24.8 yrs Lightweight KO/TKOKnee & Punches R12:42 1.00 1,269→1,419 +150 1,583 – UFC 32: Showdown in the Meadowlands Ultimate Fighting Championship
1 4 May 200122.4 yrs W1-0 Joey Gilbert 1-1-1 · 31.1 yrs Lightweight KO/TKOPunches R14:57 1.00 1,230→1,269 +39 1,013 – UFC 31: Locked & Loaded Ultimate Fighting Championship