By the Numbers: Clay Guida vs. B.J. Penn

The ordering process for Ultimate Fighting Championship pay-per-views has changed: UFC 237 is only available on ESPN+ in the U.S.

B.J. Penn is back, and this time, he will mix it up with fellow veteran Clay Guida at UFC 237. This encounter will happen at the Jeunesse Arena in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on May 11. Let’s turn back the hands of time and reflect on the numbers that make this such a mouthwatering matchup.

Finishing rate

Penn in his heyday was one of the most dominant fighters on the face of the earth. The man from Hilo, Hawaii, would finish opponent after another even in championship fights. He’s had 16 career victories, finishing seven by KO or TKO and six by submission, making for an 82 percent stoppage rate. Only three of his wins went the distance.

Though not as devastating as Penn, Guida is a fireball who favors fight-ending attacks, specifically submissions. He holds 13 victories by tapout and seven by KO or TKO, making for a 59 percent finishing rate. “The Carpenter” has tallied 34 wins overall, with 13 of those going to a decision.

Former UFC champions fought

Being a former champion himself, Penn has faced (and defeated) the best at 155 pounds. His first championship bid was spoiled by then lightweight king Jens Pulver at UFC 35. He then drew Caol Uno in the lightweight tournament finals for another failed attempt. After that bout, he stepped away from the Ultimate Fighting Championship and won the Rumble on the Rock lightweight title before returning to the Octagon as a welterweight. On his debut at 170 pounds, Penn submitted Matt Hughes to take the welterweight belt.

Penn later captured the lightweight strap after destroying Joe Stevenson at UFC 80. He successfully defended it three times before losing it to Frankie Edgar. In all, Penn has fought seven former UFC champions, namely Hughes, Edgar, Georges St. Pierre, Sean Sherk, Pulver, Lyoto Machida and Matt Serra.

As for Guida, he’s no stranger to going toe-to-toe against champions, though it’s much fewer in comparison. He’s fought three in Benson Henderson, Anthony Pettis and Rafael dos Anjos.

Post-fight bonuses

Without question, these scrappers have no problem turning in electrifying performances. But between the two, it’s Guida who has earned more post-fight accolades. He’s won six Fight of the Night (versus Tyson Griffin, Roger Huerta, Nate Diaz, Diego Sanchez, Henderson and Tatsuya Kawajiri) and three Submission of the Night (versus Justin James, Shannon Gugerty and Takanori Gomi) awards.

Penn, on the other hand, has garnered five post-fight bonuses: two Fight of the Night (versus Hughes II and Nick Diaz), two Submission of the Night (versus Joe Stevenson and Kenny Florian), and one Knockout of the Night (versus Hughes III).

UFC losses

Penn and Guida have seen good and bad days inside the Octagon. The former has suffered 12 losses and is winless in his last six bouts. He has been beaten by Ryan Hall, Dennis Siver, Yair Rodriguez, Rory MacDonald, Nick Diaz, Hughes, Pulver, St. Pierre twice and Edgar thrice. Like Penn, Guida has also lost 12 times in the UFC, and these were to Charles Oliveira, Brian Ortega, Thiago Tavares, Dennis Bermudez, Chad Mendes, Gray Maynard, Henderson, Florian, Sanchez, Roger Huerta, Tyson Griffin and Din Thomas.