Under the Microscope: Analyzing Lightweight Greats

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B.J. Penn

* LIGHTWEIGHT RECORD: 11-3-1 (.766)
* OPPONENT WINNING PERCENTAGE: .712
* LONGEST WINNING STREAK: 4
* RECORD IN MAJOR LIGHTWEIGHT TITLE FIGHTS: 4-3-1
* FINISH PERCENTAGE: 91
* FINISHED PERCENTAGE: 0
* NOTABLE VICTORIES: Jens Pulver, Caol Uno, Matt Serra, Takanori Gomi, Sean Sherk, Kenny Florian, Diego Sanchez
* CAREER ACCOMPLISHMENTS: Former UFC lightweight champion; record-tying three successful UFC lightweight title defenses; most appearances in UFC lightweight title fights (eight); first lightweight to headline a UFC event, alongside Pulver

CASE FOR: Penn has long been held as the standard-bearer for lightweight supremacy. A quick glance at his career statistics will give you plenty of evidence to support it: a strong record given his strength of opposition, a freakish finishing rate and a tie for the most consecutive UFC title defenses in an otherwise mercurial weight class. To boot, he has never been finished at 155 pounds, and two of his blemishes -- his championship draw against Uno and his first loss to Frankie Edgar -- are shrouded in controversy, adding to his untouchable mystique. Penn was on the cutting edge of MMA evolution, adding crisp boxing and surreal takedown defense to his phenomenal jiu-jitsu credentials. Penn remained a relevant force in the lightweight division for the better part of 10 years, a rare and incredible feat.

CASE AGAINST: The allure of “The Prodigy” for both supporters and naysayers is his career ADHD. His ventures above lightweight waffled between fruitful and disastrous, leaving it up to imagination when considering how he would have fared had he stayed at his most successful weight. His first rematch with Edgar marked the first time he was soundly defeated at lightweight, and he never returned to the division afterwards. As it stands, he is certainly a frontrunner to claim the title of the No. 1 lightweight of all-time, but it is hard to imagine that he would not have been a shoo-in for the spot if he had just stayed put.