By Shaun McElreath
UFC 137 on Saturday October 29th will be headlined by former UFC lightweight and welterweight champion BJ Penn. Standing across the cage will be former Strikeforce welterweight champion Nick Diaz. As compiled in this breakdown, Penn is able to end the fight on the feet or the ground and will be the best match stylistically for Mr. 209 in his return home to the UFC. In honor of Hilo’s most notable son, Fight Hub TV has compiled a list of his Top Five Finishes
5. Penn vs. Uno – UFC 34; November 2, 2001 -Las Vegas,Nevada
One of the quickest fights in Penn’s career, Caol Uno came out aggressive and missed with a flying kick, Penn responded with a left hook to stun him and a right that sent him down, followed by a barrage until “Big John” McCarthy had seen enough. This was the third consecutive win in his beginning career, first three wins all by way of KO/TKO.
4. Penn vs. Sanchez* – UFC 107; December 12, 2009 -Memphis,Tennessee
In what would be his last successful lightweight title defense, Penn picked apart the outclassed Sanchez with technical standup and one very nasty kick to the face. Diego was a bloody mess, prompting a doctor stoppage in the fourth round. Since winning the lightweight championship for the second time, Penn had finished all of his opponents and never went the distance when the belt was on the line
3. Penn vs. Sherk* – UFC 84; May 24th, 2008 -Las Vegas,Nevada
A fight that required no motivation for either man, Penn had won a vacated title that was stripped from Sean Sherk after he tested positive for steroids in his match at UFC 73 by the CSAC. Penn baited his opponent with trash talk while Sherk went along with it and the two met center cage. Giving up a decorated wrestling base, Sherk decided to box with Penn and ended up being outclassed until punches found a home and the flying knee finished “The Muscle Shark” off to lie against a cage while the reigning champion enjoyed another successful victory.
2. Penn vs. Stevenson* – UFC 80; January 19, 2008 –Newcastle,England
Following a successful position as coach on TUF season five and avenging his first title fight loss to Jens Pulver, “The Prodigy” was once again inside the octagon for the UFC lightweight championship. Standing on the other side was Joe “Daddy” Stevenson, the season two winner of TUF and a successful lightweight who was aiming to make this bout his fifth straight win and take home a belt for his efforts. In the end, Penn opened up Stevenson, displaying one of the most memorable (and bloody) rear naked choke submissions in all of MMA.
1. – Penn vs. Hughes III – UFC 123; November 20, 2010 –Auburn Hills,Michigan
One of the most storied and rivaled fighters in the UFC welterweight division, BJ Penn and Matt Hughes each had a win over the other. Penn shocked Hughes with a submission victory to take the welterweight belt at UFC 46; Hughes responded years later with a TKO victory over a returning Penn in 2006. Going into the bout, both men had matured but still wanted to finish the other and Penn did so, in quick and vicious form. Ending the fight with a knockout less than thirty seconds in, Hughes sat asking “what happened” as Penn ran out of the cage and back inside, elated with victory.
* = for the UFC lightweight championship
