Is BJ Penn the Greatest Lightweight Champion in UFC History?

by

Kevin Sampson

Correspondent Written on August 09, 2009

BJ Penn has beaten Kenny Florian in convincing fashion, and successfully defended his title. The fact that he pulled off the submission in the 4th round should silence a lot of doubts about BJ habitually fading in late rounds and have lousy cardio.

Has BJ Penn erased the doubts about his greatness? Since his return from K-1 to the UFC, BJ has never lost a Lightweight match, and he's finished everyone he's fought in that division since returning.

Unfortunately, he's also never WON a welterweight match since he returned—not a good thing considering that he left the UFC as the Welterweight Champion.

Many will remember, BJ is the guy who broke the longest string of title defenses in UFC Welterweigh history by Matt Hughes. That was BJ's first title and the beginning of his legacy as UFC Champion. The welterweight division of today is proving to be the one thing that is the most damaging to BJ's reputation as a fighter.

So the answer to the question: Has BJ Penn erased the doubts about his greatness? At welterweight, absolutely not! At lightweight, absolutely yes! A good sign to BJ to stay at 155 perhaps?

Here's a closer look at BJ's record since his return:
Welterweight:
vs St Pierre: lost by split decision.
vs Hughes: lost by TKO
vs St Pierre: lost by TKO (doctor stoppage)

Lightweight:
vs Jens Pulver: won by Submission
vs Joe Stevenson: won by Submission
vs Sean Sherk: won by Knockout
vs Kenny Florian: won by Submission

BJ Penn might be able to contend with the Welterweight elite, but all he's fought since his return have been champions and soon-to-be champions at 170. But when he's fighting where he belongs—the lightweight division—BJ Penn has finished everyone he's fought since his return.

So we can all agree that BJ Penn is not the greatest welterweight champion of all-time? Far, far from it. Fair enough.

But now that he's just finished dismantling Kenny Florian, can the case for "most dominant lightweight in UFC history" begin? He's got a solid beginning. He's only lost one fight at lightweight ever: In January of 2002, he fought Jens Pulver for the title and lost by split decision. He has since avenged that loss and did it in convincing fashion.

If we're looking for anyone else deserving of "Best UFC Lightweight ever":
1.) We have steroid-boy Sean Sherk. He tested possitive for steroids after his one and only title defense, and was stripped of the title.

2.) We have Jens Pulver with two title defenses. This would be the strongest alternative. I don't think that Jens beat the same quality of opponents in his run, but based purely on numbers, you gotta call it a tie for now.

If BJ Penn can successfully defend against Diego Sanchez, I think we have a lock for calling BJ Penn "The greatest lightweight champion in UFC History"...history so far of course.

As it stands, he's technically tied with Jens Pulver, at least in terms of record. I think Diego Sanchez will be the sternest test BJ Penn has ever faced, so locking himself in as "Greatest Lightweight Ever" ain't gonna be easy!

Oh yeah and how bout a "Hell yeah" for seeing Anderson "The Spider" Silva get back to his terrifying and stunning winning ways again! Now if only there were a way to match him up with Machida and see if he can take two titles at once.

Alas, the most recent word on that matchup was that Silva and Machida wouldn't fight because they train together. But things like that may change, you never know.