Stepping up the Scales

Penn returns to Welterweight with 21 second KO over Hughes


B.J. Penn, former UFC Lightweight and welterweight champion, made a triumphant return to welterweight this last Saturday at UFC 123, scoring a knock out victory against former two-time champion Matt Hughes in just 21 seconds. 

After the fight, he began heading back to the locker room, but quickly came back to the octagon out of respect for his opponent, according to the post-fight press conference.

“I was trying to recreate the Caol Uno fight,” Penn said.  “But I can not be disrespectful of Matt. I gotta go back in there and give Matt the honors.”

Road back to welterweight

Penn (16-7-1) had been coming into his fight with two straight losses from UFC Lightweight champion Frankie Edgar.  According to the post-fight press conference, Penn was fired up as soon as he got the call that he would face Hughes.

“Me and Matt put on great fights and I am just happy it went that way,” Penn said.  “Matt Hughes is my idol and will always be my idol.”

Penn’s KO not only gave him his first victory in the welterweight division in the last four years, it also gave him the overall victory in his trilogy against Hughes.  He had won their first fight back in 2004, in which he was crowned the fourth UFC welterweight champ.  Hughes won their rematch back in 2006.


Former fighters who have had success gaining (or cutting) weight

Penn, is not the only MMA fighter to have success in two different weight classes. 

UFC Hall of Famer Randy Couture was the first fighter to win titles in two divisions, earning titles as a heavyweight and a light heavyweight.

Another UFC fighter who has gained success in changing weight divisions is Jake Shields.  Shields is a former Elite XC Welterweight champion, and a former Strikeforce Middleweight champion.

Strikeforce fighter Dan Henderson earned titles in Pride Fighting Championship’s welterweight and middleweight division.  Current Strikeforce heavyweight champ Alistair Overeem competed in Pride’s middleweight Grand Prix tournament, earning victories over Vitor Belfort and Igor Vochancyn.

Most recently Urijah Faber, a former WEC featherweight champion, has moved back down to bantamweight.  In his first fight back to bantamweight, he defeated Takeya Mizugaki by submission in the first round.

Future Matches for Penn in the welterweight division. 
Although it seems like Penn has been given a fresh start in his return to the welterweight division, he still has quite a ladder to climb if he wants  to regain the title. 

Possible opponents for Penn in the welterweight division include Shields, Carlos Condit a former WEC Welterweight champion, and Josh Koscheck, the current number one contender for the UFC welterweight title.

Another possible bout for Penn would be a rematch against former champion Matt Serra.  Penn previously defeated Serra in a lightweight bout back in 2002.

Perhaps the one match up Penn will be anticipating for is a rematch with current champion Georges St. Pierre. 

According to MMAweekly, Penn’s next opponent may be Jon Fitch at UFC 127.