B.J. Penn
UFC 126 Or Curitiba Vs. Rio De Janeiro
I haven’t written about a UFC event in a long time.
Well, that’s about to change today, because UFC 126 features two mixed martial artists fighting for the Middleweight Championship title that bring a lot to the table.
The reigning UFC Middleweight Champ, Anderson “Spider” Silva, is currently considered by many the best pound-per-pound fighter, maybe even the best fighter of all time.
Silva will enter the Octagon at UFC 126 with 13 straight wins. His last win was last August at UFC 117 against Chael Sonnen whom he submitted with triangle choke in the fith round, after he was behind on the scorecards up till that point of the fight.
It ain’t over till it’s over!
The almost 36-year-old Silva has secured 20 of his 27 career wins by KO, TKO or submission. The Spider’s list of “victims” reads like at Who’s Who of UFC Middleweight Elite: Forrest Griffin, Rich Franklin, Nate Marquardt, Dan Henderson and Demian Mia.
“The Spider” has never been defeated (12-0) inside the Octagon.
Silva is a graduate of the Chute Boxe Academy that opened as a Muay Thai academy in 1978 in Curitiba, Brazil.
By 1995, the Chute Boxe team was considered a prime training ground for Vale Tudo fighters.
With an aggressive and physical style focused around their muay thai skills, Chute Boxe fighters are well-rounded fighters, able to use submissions, punches, kicks, and various grappling styles as needed.
You can clearly see these elements of Anderson Silva’s fighting style, even though he left Chute Boxe in 2003 to start MuayThai Dream Team.
Along Came The Spider:
But will it be enough when he faces this formidable opponent fromRio de Janeiro in UFC 126?
At the youthful age of 19, Vitor “Phenom”Belfort had his successful debut in the Octagon a whopping 14 years ago this month. He later went on to capture the light heavyweight championship.
The Carlson Gracie master student from Rio d Janeiro is truly blessed with some of the most stinging hand speed that will wreak havoc if he has his way.
Vitor has attained 13 of his 19 career wins either by KO or TKO. Like Anderson Silva, Vitor has accomplished some remarkable victories against a number of outstanding opponents such as Matt Lindland, Wanderlei Silva, UFC hall of famer Randy Couture and Bobby Southworth.
Should Vitor Belfort win against Anderson Silva, he would become the third fighter ever to UFC titles in multiple weight classes.
The other two fighters? Randy Couture and B.J. Penn.
Introducing Vitor “The Phenom” Belfort:
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The Talented Mr. BJ Penn aka ‘The Prodigy’
If you look up the definition of the word ‘prodigy’ you will in most cases find:
“A person so extraordinary as to inspire wonder; specifically, a child of highly unusual talent or genius.”
BJ Penn, the current UFC-Lightweight Champion, from Hilo, Hawaii, has often been referred to as ‘The Prodigy’. And rightfully so, may I say.
In today’s post, I will refrain from listing all his impressive wins on the mat, in the ring and inside ‘The Octagon’. And they are many, even against a number of highly recognizable names on the MMA circuit such as Matt Hughes, Renzo Gracie, Jens Pulver, Kenny Florian.
I am more interested in sharing with you his predisposition in becoming a UFC Champion and one of the most well-known and respected figures in professional Mixed Martial Arts.
And how did that nickname ‘The Prodigy’ establish itself anyway?
When BJ was 17 years old, he started his BJJ training together with his brother after an introduction by his neighbor, Tom Callos, who must be mighty proud today.
It must have been around two years later in 1997 that BJ received instruction under the legendary Ralph Gracie, from whom he received purple belt.
By 2000, just 3 years later, he was awarded the coveted black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu by Andre Pederneiras.
This in itself is quite a feat, because reportedly it is not unusual for BJJ students to have to put in 10 years to reach that level of skill and dedication.
Shortly thereafter BJ Penn went on to become the first non-Brazilian to win the black-belt division of the World Jiu-Jitsu Championship in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, which, as you might know, is considered the birthplace of BJJ.
While most people need a decade or more to become a black belt, BJ Penn had, with only three years of training, not only received a black belt but defeated people who had been training their entire lives on his way to winning the World Jiu-Jitsu Championship.
Talent can certainly get you places, but it usually in addition takes consistent hard work and commitment to maintain and even propel you to higher elevations, in just about any profession.
Years ago UFC-President, Dana White, expressed his impression that BJ had coasted through his fighting career on natural talent alone.
That has definitely changed after BJ Penn has shown his willingness to take his professional MMA career more seriously in his training and he has obviously renewed his commitment to excel at the highest level to remain the UFC-Lightweight Champion.
His immense talent, combined with his experience and renewed commitment, make UFC-Lightweight Champion, BJ Penn ‘The Prodigy’ a force to reckon with. And most probably one of the best fighters of all time.
Check out this video in its entirety. You will not be disappointed!
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