Force Factor has officially announced the signing of MMA superstar and UFC Lightweight Champion B.J. Penn to its team of Force Factor athletes. A native of Kailua, Hawaii, Penn earned his nickname "The Prodigy" when he took the world of Jiu Jitsu by storm at the young age of 22. Having already achieved his black belt in just 3 years, B.J. not only won the World Jiu Jitsu Championship, but became the first American ever to do so.

Now age 30, B.J. Penn competes as a fighter in the UFC, where he continues to dominate his opponents with his superior MMA skills. "The Prodigy" exploded onto the UFC scene in 2001 with a commanding win over Joey Gilbert in the first round of their UFC 31 fight and hasn't looked back since. Using a combination of his strong submission technique and impressive striking skills, he has since defeated some of the biggest names and best talent the sport of MMA has to offer. His victories have made him only the second man in UFC history to hold titles in two different weight classes at the same time. Penn earned his first title, UFC Welterweight Champion, in 2004 after defeating American Matt Hughes in the first round of their championship bout. He then became the UFC Lightweight Champion four years later, submitting Joe Stevenson late in the second round of UFC 80. Most recently, "The Prodigy" defended his UFC Lightweight Champion title against Kenny Florian at UFC 101 in August 2009. For his next fight, Penn is scheduled to fight Diego "Nightmare" Sanchez at UFC 107 on December 12th.

Penn's skills aren't just limited to the ring, however. He has appeared in several movies and TV programs, including acting in the film Never Surrender and participating as a coach in SpikeTV's The Ultimate Fighter 5. In addition, Penn has co-authored an MMA instructional book and recently launched "Live Like a Champion," an experiential training program dedicated to maximizing the potential and effectiveness of martial arts instructors throughout the United States.

B.J. Penn's commitment to excellence, his drive to be the best, and his desire to share his experience with others are all traits that define what it takes to be a Force Factor athlete. Of course, it doesn't hurt to be one of the world's top fighters.