BJ Penn is an example for fighters to eat clean and take care of their bodies

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All those years of eating like shit and ballooning up 50lbs over his natural weight class, losing that weight in an extremely short amount of time, never training unless he had a fight, caught up to him (it actually caught up to him in like 2010)

Yet guys like Faber (who is the same age as Penn) still are in fantastic shape and always competitive against the best guys. Shit, Faber just fought for a world title last year! Urijah Faber is an example of how far you can take your career by eating cleaning, taking care of your body, and consistently training. Same with Silva and Mike Pyle who fought in the UFC into their 40's.

Once BJ's natural gifts such as speed, power, and explosion left him, he had nothing else to fall back on. All the coke, junk food, body stress, have fucked his careers longevity.
Pennfat.jpg

faber02.jpg
 
And the importance of taking steroids.
 
BJ should've been more like Fubar that way he could've won zero UFC titles instead of two
 
The only time he got really big was when he left the UFC for a few years. Besides that he's always been in good shape for the most part.

And honestly, he shouldn't even be fighting at FW. He's way too drained and has no muscle in that division.
 
I like the idea of this thread because some athletes simply perform at a high level longer than other athletes. Comparing Faber to Penn is really enlightening imo. They are only about six months apart in age, and while they both have a lot of fights, Faber has significantly more than Penn does. Penn has 30 fights vs Faber's 44 fights. But Faber's 10-6 record since 2010, while mocked for being gifted title shots he never won int he UFC is worlds better than Penn's pathetic and embarrassing 1-7-1.
 
He trashed his body, but you also can't have 1 foot in 1 foot out. Being basically a part time fighter in your late 30s is a good way to get beat up.
 
BJ should've been more like Fubar that way he could've won zero UFC titles instead of two

BJ came into the sport at it's infancy. If Faber competed at LW right around the same time frame as BJ. He would probably be a multiple time champ.

Nonetheless, this is about health....and it's not even in question that Faber is the healthier fighter
 
BJ should've been more like Fubar that way he could've won zero UFC titles instead of two
The "never won a belt" argument works very poorly when comparing BJ and Faber.

During much of BJ Penn's best LW streak, Faber was widely considered the best FW in the world and did in fact win and defend the most prestigious FW MMA title, the lineage of which is incorporated into the UFC FW belt.

Faber was eclipsed by the greater Aldo just like Hughes was eclipsed in large part by the greater GSP. But Penn's legacy has been helped by the absence of a similar dominant long term LW champ.
 
BJ Penn was physically about done around when he was in his early 30s.
 
I think it has more to do with his age and cumulative damage
 
that healthy food don't do nothing when you get hit by an airplane
 
The "never won a belt" argument works very poorly when comparing BJ and Faber.

During much of BJ Penn's best LW streak, Faber was widely considered the best FW in the world and did in fact win and defend the most prestigious FW MMA title, the lineage of which is incorporated into the UFC FW belt.

Faber was eclipsed by the greater Aldo just like Hughes was eclipsed in large part by the greater GSP. But Penn's legacy has been helped by the absence of a similar dominant long term LW champ.
This just reminds me of all the debates back when both were on top. That could've been a huge fight at that time. I'm pretty sure penn would've won via size, tdd, and better boxing, but Faber would've scrapped until the end and could possibly have drained penn's gas tank by the 4th and 5th. That was a fun time to be a fan.
 
Honestly think he did well considering everything against him

* Natural talent: this hurts work ethic long term unless you submit to a coach

* Born wealthy: see above

* Lives in Hawaii: see above

And he still managed to be one of only three to ever win a belt in two weight classes

But it's not a good mix for longevity
 
All those years of eating like shit and ballooning up 50lbs over his natural weight class, losing that weight in an extremely short amount of time, never training unless he had a fight, caught up to him (it actually caught up to him in like 2010)

Yet guys like Faber (who is the same age as Penn) still are in fantastic shape and always competitive against the best guys. Shit, Faber just fought for a world title last year! Urijah Faber is an example of how far you can take your career by eating cleaning, taking care of your body, and consistently training. Same with Silva and Mike Pyle who fought in the UFC into their 40's.

Once BJ's natural gifts such as speed, power, and explosion left him, he had nothing else to fall back on. All the coke, junk food, body stress, have fucked his careers longevity.
Pennfat.jpg

faber02.jpg
You're right as rain.
Rampage also got out of shape between fights and I think it cost him..
 
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