Only those that dont fight care about the record. If you were any smarter you would understand that its the fact that he was champ in 2 weight classes and fought a lhw. But that alright TS you're just like a reporter, you dont understand what matters because you're just an outside observer.
Even more than that...
- He had two primes, essentially.
- Was the most feared prospect in MMA when he came onto the scene.
- Skyrocketed through the rankings.
- Won his black belt in near record time.
- Many memorable fights and rivalries (Hughes, GSP, Edgar, etc,)
- Pretty much built the UFC's lightweight division along with Jens Pulver, Din Thomas, Caol Uno, etc.
- Only lost to either champions or the elite of the elite. Yes, Jens Pulver and Nick Diaz have been elite at one point or another in their careers.
- He didn't give a fuck about weight classes.
- He never backed down, sometimes to his detriment.
- The craziest thing is all of this was a choice, he came from relatively good money and did this to challenge himself. I respect that.
- He's one of those guys that can flip the switch between promotion and sportsman.
Much respect to BJ Penn, a long and prosperous career leaving him well inside the top 50 GOAT list on any sane person's list.
DISCLAIMER: I say all this as a huge Edgar fan and someone who has never personally rooted for BJ Penn, he's had a great impact on the sport. He's had the impact at lightweight that Chuck Liddell or Tito Ortiz had at Light-Heavyweight. Anyone who fails to see this needs to put things in perspective.
