Sherdog’s Top 10: MMA’s Most Dangerous Weapons

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10. B.J. Penn’s Back Control

Penn’s jiu-jitsu prowess is well known, having studied under the likes of Ralph Gracie and Andre Pederneiras over the course of his black belt education. As time has passed, “The Prodigy” has often neglected his dangerous ground game in favor of boxing. It is hard to argue with the strategies employed by Penn, who is as gifted a fighter as there is in the sport. Still, some of Penn’s greatest moments have come from his jiu-jitsu wizardry. At the forefront is his uncanny ability to dominate the action from his opponent’s back.

The Hawaiian’s flexibility often aids him, not only in taking an adversary’s back but in maintaining the position. Penn’s high level of MMA awareness makes it extremely difficult to shake free, and he is also adept at sinking in his hooks.

Penn showed some solid work from back control in the opening frame against Jon Fitch at UFC 127, the first time he had put those skills on display for an extended period since stopping Kenny Florian with a rear-naked choke at UFC 101. After standing for the majority of the first three rounds with Florian, Penn took the fight to the mat in round four. He went from side control to mount before taking Florian’s back twice. The Boston native did his best to defend but eventually succumbed to the choke before the round expired.

While there is no question the gifted Penn has a wide array of options at his disposal, his relentless attacks from back control have been successful more often than not.

Honorable Mentions: Katsunori Kikuno’s crescent kick to the liver; Paul Daley’s left hook; Urijah Faber’s guillotine choke; Vitor Belfort’s hand speed; Mirko “Cro Cop” Filipovic’s head kick.