Jay Dee “The Prodigy” Penn born December 13, 1978 in Hawaii, is an American mixed martial artist and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu practitioner. At the age of seventeen, Penn began training in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu after being introduced to it by his neighbor. In 1997 Penn began training Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu under Ralph Gracie. His accomplishments in the World Jiu-Jitsu Championship caught the attention of Dana White and the Ultimate Fighting Championship who convinced him to switch to MMA. Penn made his mixed martial arts debut with the company on May 24, 2001 with a win over Joey Gilbert at UFC 31.Achievements include – First non-Brazilian to win gold medal in black belt division of the Mundial World Championships held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, 1999 – Joins Nova Uniao Competition Team (reserved for the four top team competitors), UFC lightweight Champion, UFC Welterweight Champion, Grapplers Quest Lightweight Championship Super fight winner.