# BJ Penn

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## Overview

**Name:** BJ Penn


## Bio

The first American-born black belt to win the Mundial, BJ Penn captured the gold medal at the 2000 World Jiu-Jitsu Championships representing Nova União under André Pederneiras. His rise through the ranks was one of the fastest on record, earning his black belt in just over three years after starting his grappling journey with Tom Callos, then Ralph Gracie in California before relocating to Brazil to train with Nova União’s elite lightweights like Leo Santos, Robson Moura, and Shaolin Ribeiro. Penn’s aggressive, fluid guard and relentless top pressure defined his game, and he parlayed that world title into a legendary MMA career as a two-division UFC champion.
## Achievements

- World Champion (black belt division, 2000)
- UFC Lightweight Champion
- UFC Welterweight Champion
- World Silver Medallist (blue belt division, 1998)

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**Last Updated:** September 05, 2026

**Data Source:** bjj.space (https://bjj.space/people/bj-penn)