BJ Penn is one of the best lightweight fighters of all time, but was he good enough in his prime to give the likes of Khabib Nurmagomedov and Islam Makhachev a run for their money?
According to UFC color commentator and podcast connoisseur, Joe Rogan, Penn would have been a “nightmare” for the overpowering Dagestani fighters.
Penn, now 47, is recognized as one of the most dangerous 155-pound fighters in UFC history. His elite grappling, innate ability to find a finish, and overall resolve inside of the cage
made “Prodigy” one hell of a difficult out. Penn obviously fell off later in his career — including losing his last seven trips to the Octagon — but during his heyday there wasn’t anyone better.
While it’s often difficult to compare two elite fighters from two different eras of MMA that’s exactly what Rogan has done. During a recent episode of The Joe Rogan Experience, the long-time UFC commentator sparked a conversation about Penn in his prime and how he’d “put him at 155 pounds against anybody ever.” Rogan even brought up Nurmagomedov and Makhachev, suggesting that Penn would be a “nightmare” for the former UFC lightweight champions.
Check out Rogan’s comments below and let us know your thoughts!
“I always point to BJ Penn because BJ Penn in his prime was insane. I would put prime BJ Penn at 155 pounds against anybody ever. Anybody at 155 ever,” said Rogan.
“I don’t know if he would have beaten Khabib. Khabib is the all-time great. I don’t know if he would have beaten Islam, but I know it would have been a nightmare. He was a f—king phenom.”
