1 - is Penn a top 5 atg? I have him 5th after Fedor, Anderson, Big Nog and GSP. 2 - what is your 1st to 5th placings of: Penn Henderson Wanderlei Sakuraba Hughes :bbb
1. Yes, I can't think of five guys that have more impressive resumes but I'm waffling on exactly where I'd have him. 2. Henderson Penn Hughes Wanderlei Sakuraba
Top 5 ATG? Well, maybe but if you want to compare it to some of the others (with respect to the fight CV), his doesn't look as impressive. Anderson GSP Fedor Nogueira Maybe(s) Chuck, Hughes, Couture, Sakuraba, Henderson Getting close? Rua, Jackson, Fitch, Aldo, Cruz, Evans, Jones I think BJ's biggest downfall in this sense will be the simple fact that he never really stuck around and made a significant mark in one division. His run from Pulver, Stevens, Sherk, Florian and Sanchez was very good (his best win in that stretch being Florian), before dropping two straight to Edgar. His main claim to fame being that be beat Matt Hughes (now twice). Top 5 is a pretty lofty place. Is he there? Maybe, you could make an argument either way.
I'm inclined to agree, but Penn, and GSP even more so, still have a significant portion of their careers left. I think Penn's spot at or near the top of the ATG list is pretty firmly in place, GSP has a lot of room for movement though. Of these fighters, from top to bottom: Fedor Anderson Nog GSP Penn Hendo Saku Wand Hughes I struggle with Hughes in the same way I do with Liddell. They were the best at what they did at the time they did it, but they were often blessed with stylistically favourable match ups, and both of these guys were stopped in their primes in fights they should have won (Matt by BJ Penn, and Chucky by Randy Couture)
2 Division champion Greatest Lightweight Ever--edgar could become the greatest if he can be a champion for a while. Top 5 i'd say The only thing that would hurt his legacy is the last couple of years losing to edgar and diaz but that still doesn't erase all those years he fought and beat the best.
