BJ "The Prodigy" Penn

History: Nicknamed "The Prodigy", BJ Penn was introduced to Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu in Hilo Hawaii at the tender age of 17 by neighbor Tom Callos. It was through Tom Callos that BJ met Ralph Gracie in 1997 and decided to relocate to Mountain View, CA to further his jiu-jitsu training. From that time on, BJ Penn launched his storied career through the ranks of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu becoming the fastest black belt in history and most decorated Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu fighter in the USA. Accomplishments along the way include the following:

May, 1997 Enters first tournament in Bakersfield, CA and wins both his weight and the open weight class.
June, 1997 Enters the Joe Moreira tournament as a blue belt winning his weight class.
June, 1997 Wins submission grappling tournament
1997 Enters Brasileiro and places 4th in his weight class, blue belt category
1997 Continues to enter tournaments upon return from Brazil placing first consistently
1997 Receives blue belt from Ralph Gracie
1998 Silver medal at Brazilian Mundials competition in his weight division; receives purple belt upon return
1999 Bronze medal at Brazilian Mundials in heavier weight class as a newly promoted Nova Uniao brown belt.
1999 Gold medal, Copa Pacific Tournament in Los Angeles
1999 Receives Black belt from Andre Pederneiras just 3 weeks before the 2000 Mundials
1999 Joins Nova Uniao Competition Team (reserved for the four top team competitors)
2000 First non-Brazilian to win gold medal in black belt division of the Mundial World Championships held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
2000 BJ Penn challenges ADCC North American Trials Champion, Mike Cardoso at Grapplers Quest West in Las Vegas, Nevada and dismantles him 30-2 on points in a 20 minute match. At the same event, BJ's brother, JD Penn is named "Most Technical Fighter" by Grapplers Quest President, Brian Cimins

2001 Enters UFC 31 preliminary match and beats Joey Gilbert by referee stoppage at 4:58
2001 Defeated Din Thomas by knockout in 2:17 at UFC 32
2001 Defeated Caol Uno by knockout in, well, fast at UFC 34
2002 Loss to Jens Pulver by majority decision at UFC 35
2002 Defeated Paul Creighton by TKO at UFC 37
2002 Defeated Matt Serra by unanimous decision at UFC 39
2003 Draws to Caol Uno at UFC 41
2003 Defeated Takanori Gomi by rear naked choke at Rumble on the Rock 4 making BJ the World Lightweight Champion
2004 Defeated 5 time Welterweight Champion Matt Hughes by rear naked choke at UFC 46 making BJ the UFC Welterweight Champion and steals the title for the best fighter "pound for pound"
2004 Defeated Duane "Bang" Ludwig by arm triangle at K-1 MMa Romanex
2004 Defeated Rodrigo Gracie by decision at Rumble on the Rock
2005 Loss to Ryoto "Lyoto" Machida by unanimous decision at K-1-Hero's 1
2005 Defeated Renzo Gracie by unanimous decision at K-1-World Grand Prix Hawaii
2006 Loss to Georges St. Pierre by split decision at UFC 58-USA vs Canada
2006 Loss to Matt Hughes for UFC Welterweight Title
by TKO - 3:53 of Round 3 at UFC 63 Hughes vs Penn
2007 Defeated Jens Pulver by Rear Naked Choke - 3:12 of Round 2 at UFC TUF 5 FINALE