MMA legacy: Hughes vs BJ Penn

Since there going to fight soon, I thought this was an appropriate one to do. Two of the all time greats, and considered by many to be the GOAT of there respective weight class. There were times where they unstoppable in there weight classes and both of them were very high up the P4P fighters list.

Matt Hughers

Age: 37

Record: 45-7

Notable wins: Menne, Gono, Newton 2x, Sakurai, Sherk, Trigg 2x, Castillo, GSP, Royce Gracie, BJ Penn, Riggs, Lytle, Serra, Renzo Gracie, ALemdia.

Accolades: UFC Welterweight Championship x 2, UFC Hall of Fame, The Armbar HOF, Most wins in the UFC (18)



BJ Penn

Age: 31

Record: 15-7

Notable wins: Thomas, Uno, Serra, Gomi, Hughes, Rodrigo and Renzo Gracie, Pulver, Sherk, Daddy, Kenflo, Sanchez.

Accolades: UFC Lightweight Championship, UFC Welterweight Championship, second person to win a title in two different weight classes, The Armbar HOF.

For me I'm edging towards Hughes. He's had over twice as many fights and has more notable wins to his name. If we were doing a who's a greater fighter, then it would be a lot closer, but since were comparing there career's, Hughes is a clear candidate. He's defended his belt more times than BJ has and has more notable wins. BJ has a shout because he won a belt in two weight classes, but for me, Hughes has had the better career.

I'd go for Hughes too, although both options in the poll are blank, so i don't wanna guess which is which!

I also think as far as the acolades go, you should move Armbar HOF up the list, as i'm sure it has alot more meaning to these guys than a measly UFC HOF or similar!!

That's bizarre, not sure why it's blank. Anyway Hughes is the 1st options, BJ the 2nd.

And your right, the armbar HOF is the greatest achievement any fighter can get!

It's not just this poll tho, don't worry, it's like that for me for all polls. No idea why, always has been.

Efils highlight both options with your mouse to see what the choices are. No idea why its like this, but its always has been.

I'll go with Hughes aswell. I think he's fully maximised his potential in his career. As opposed to BJ with even all his great skills and talent is only 15-7. BJ has underachieved greatly while Hughes is the opposite. Its that simple really.


Hughes takes this for sure. But hoping for BJ to take the fight on Saturday.

Same amount of losses each, however Hughes has over 30 more wins.


No brainer for me.

farmer boy for me too prob one of my all time fav fighters, a complete legend of MMA and will go down as an all time great. One of only a few people to beat GSP too... not many more people will ever do that! BJ has failed. Although I love K1 im not too sure on BJ's appearances for them and weather his record was any good perhaps need to do some research! that could always give him a little more credit!

its not about numbers!

look at the notable wins and the accolades and its pretty close.

its hard to split them, i might edge towards Hughes. Tomorrows fight could actually be the decider?

manschesthair_utd wrote:its not about numbers!

look at the notable wins and the accolades and its pretty close.

its hard to split them, i might edge towards Hughes. Tomorrows fight could actually be the decider?

yeah i found it hard to choose but went for hughes. his earlier career was excellent iv enjoyed watching hughes over the years.

I dont think you should just go on the number of wins, there are a few cans on Matt Hughes record, weheras you struggle to find any on BJ's record, would Matt Hughes have thought Machida??

Not knocking Hughes he is a great fighter, but just wouldnt judge on wins and loss column because BJ doesnt seem to have been bothered about that and has moved weights and took fights that other fighters would refuse.

Would still go for Matt Hughes if you are looking at the career in total, but I wouldnt say he was more talented than BJ, just that his career has been perhaps better managed depending on how you view this type of thing.

That obviously wasn't the ONLY reason i picked Hughes!


But i do think Hughes' record is far superior to BJ's.

Penn is the superior fighter but Hughes leaves a far superior legacy. The greatest WW ever and the most dominant UFC champ ever after Anderson.

Wow 8-1 now, I think Penn is a far better fighter not even close for me... but I voted Hughes, in terms of Legacy he has achieved much more. BJ has been far too inactive over his career and been lazy as well. Hughes fought much more often and always worked hard so he achieved more, Skill wise they arent even in the same league I reckon.

Not even close, 9-1 to Hughes so far, and unless a huge number of BJ Penn fan boys come in, I think it's pretty clear who people think has the greater legacy.

It's the same as the Coleman vs Couture thing. Coleman in his prime was a better fighter than Couture in his prime but Randy left the better legacy. You could do Pat Miletich vs GSP. GSP is a much better fighter but his legacy is not close to Miletich's. Frank Shamrock vs Anderson Silva would be a close one IMO.

Big BJ fan and don't really care that much for Hughes,but there's no denying that Hughes has the greater legacy.

Anfield, right now I'm only focusing on HOF fighters. Silva vs Shamrock is good suggestion, might be my next one.

GSP and Miletich are HOF calibre fighters.

I meant the Armbar HOF. Is Militech in that yet?

What about Bas Rutten against Cro-Cop.

Not hard to guess who you'll be voting for on that one

Another good suggestion though. I'll do that one soon. So far, the one's i've done have been dominated by one fighter. Got to try and make them closer.

sorry I didn't realize that you wanted to make them close,in that case you'd probably be better off matching cro-cop up against someone like Evan Tanner.RIP

ChelseaQuinsfan wrote:I meant the Armbar HOF. Is Militech in that yet?

Surely he must be. First ever WW champ, trainer of more 3 different UFC champions.

He was suggested a couple of times but for some reason never made the cut. I think there was a lack of support to put him in. The criteria is mostly about there ability as fighters and the career's they had, so he trained has little relevancy according to the criteria I think.