BJ PENN

BJ PENN (http://www.fcfighter.com/PICTURES/MISC/bj-penn.jpg (http://www.fcfighter.com/PICTURES/MISC/bj-penn.jpg))

Jay "Dee" Penn was born on December 13, 1978 in Kailua, Hawaii. He is called by his nickname BJ, a short version of his nickname "Baby Jay" because he has 2 older brothers also named Jay "Dee" Penn. His 4th brother is named Reagan Penn. BJ Penn lives in Hilo, Hawaii with his girlfriend Shealen Uaiwa, they have a daughter named, Aeva Lilu.

Brazillian Juijitsu (http://oklahomajiujitsu.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/54692.jpg (http://oklahomajiujitsu.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/54692.jpg))

By the time he was 17 years old BJ was training in Brazilian Jiujitsu after being introduced to it by his neighbor Tom Callos. Afterwards, Callos would train Penn and his brothers at his gym. Ralph Gracie would train BJ as well. Then it would be Andrea Pederneiras that would give him his black belt in Brazilian Jiujitsu. Penn was the fastest American to receive a black belt in Brazilian jujitsu. A few weeks later in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil BJ went on to win the World Jiujitsu Championship, becoming the first non-Brazilian to win the black belt division of the contest.

Penn made his Smashing mixed martial arts debut with the UFC on May 24, 2001. Penn flew out the gates in the lightweight division. He fought Joey Gilbert.  During the start of his career, BJ made his mark in the UFC, knocking out lightweights Din Thomas and Caol Uno. Afterwards on On January 11, 2002, at UFC 31: Locked and Loaded, Penn lost to UFC lightweight champion Jens Pulver by decision. Though he lost that night to Pulver at UFC 31, Penn would later get revenge at the TUF 5 season Finale defeating Pulver. Penn later went on to win the Lightweight and Welterweight title, becoming the 2nd fighter on UFC to hold 2 titles in different weight classes. On January 31, 2004 he jumped up a weight class to compete at UFC 46: Supernatural, against five-time defending welterweight champion Matt Hughes. Penn defeated Hughes, winning the welterweight title. Shortly after the victory, Penn left the UFC, vacating the title due to a contract breach allowing Penn to not defend the title upon his absence.

BJ PENN IS BACK TO THE UFC (http://www.ufcfightblogger.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/BJ-Penn-Is-Back.jpg (http://www.ufcfightblogger.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/BJ-Penn-Is-Back.jpg))

In 2004 Penn left the UFC and signed to Rumble on the Rock and also with the K-1 organization FEG (Fighting and Entertainment Group). During this transition to the FEG from UFC Penn was stripped of his lightweight title.  BJ Penn fought his first K-1 fight against Duane Ludwig, defeating Ludwig at the 2004 K-1 MMA Romanex bout. He won his first fight against Takanori Gomi at Rumble on the Rock 4. On March 26, 2005 Penn had his biggest K-1 fight against Lyoto "The Dragon" Machida (Who is now in the UFC) at K-1's Hero event. Machida won over Penn by unanimous decision.

BJ Penn returned to the UFC on March 4, 2006. Upon his return Penn fought George St-Pierre at UFC 58. St-Pierre won by split decision going on to become to the #1 contender for the welterweight division. Later Penn was struck with injury when he squared off against Matt Hughes once again in UFC 63. Penn said that Hughes is a great fighter and deserved the victory. Penn went on to have a great career. He currently has the mma record 16 - 8 - 2 (Win - Loss - Draw) 26 total fights.