Although B.J. Penn`s prime is far behind him, his remarkable legacy remains highly regarded.
On a recent podcast, Joe Rogan discussed Penn, initially highlighting how improved physical conditioning unlocked the former two-division UFC champion`s peak performance. He then proposed that a prime Penn would be a formidable challenge for any lightweight contender, even the legendary Khabib Nurmagomedov.
Rogan explained that during his peak, Penn trained with Marv Marinovich, who utilized unconventional methods focusing on plyometrics and explosive drills to build an incredible gas tank. Rogan believes Marinovich`s approach, which prioritized conditioning over fight-specific training during camp, made Penn unstoppable. He stated, “When B.J. Penn was training with him, he was unstoppable.”
Rogan argued that while Khabib Nurmagomedov is often considered the greatest lightweight, potentially justifiably so, he would confidently pit the prime version of B.J. Penn, as seen against fighters like Joe Stevenson or Sean Sherk, against anybody. He specifically mentioned Penn`s dominant performance against Diego Sanchez, highlighting his insane ground game from his back (“if you got him to the ground, his f*cking submission game was insane”), his ability to take the back, his knockout power (“He would knock you out standing up”), and elite kickboxing.
Khabib Nurmagomedov is frequently named the greatest fighter at 155 pounds, and for good reason. He retired undefeated in 2020 with a 29-0 record, three title defenses, and wins over numerous top fighters and future Hall of Famers. His overwhelming wrestling often resulted in one-sided victories, and his retirement left many fans wishing he had continued to compete against the division`s best.
B.J. Penn`s professional record of 16-14-2 doesn`t fully capture the incredible force he was in his prime. During the UFC`s growth in the 2000s, his spectacular performances at both welterweight and lightweight made him a fan favorite. His rivalries with Georges St-Pierre and Matt Hughes are legendary in MMA history. While he won titles in two divisions, his presence was arguably most feared in the lightweight division.
Rogan speculated on how Nurmagomedov might approach a hypothetical fight against Penn.
He suggested Khabib would likely try to take Penn down, potentially fighting similarly to how Georges St-Pierre did against Penn. However, Rogan emphasized the significant size difference between Penn (a natural lightweight who later fought at featherweight) and St-Pierre (a large, muscular welterweight). St-Pierre also possessed strong wrestling, vicious ground-and-pound, a jiu-jitsu black belt, and good striking. Rogan also recalled the controversial fight, mentioning “accusations of greasing” against St-Pierre due to how slippery he was, making it difficult for Penn to grapple, especially from his back, where he was exceptionally skilled.
Rogan described Penn`s extraordinary flexibility, noting his legs were like “arms” and he could easily lock his legs in a “lotus position” from his back without using his hands. He concluded that being trapped in Penn`s guard was extremely dangerous.
