This Month’s MMA Birthdays: B.J. Penn Turns 40

Even as his once-prodigious skills faded and the results of his fights provided further ammunition for his detractors, B.J. Penn maintained a loyal following across the mixed martial arts universe. The popular Hawaiian will celebrate his 40th birthday on Dec. 13.

Penn was awarded his Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt after just three years of formal training and first surfaced as a name to watch in 2000, when he became the first non-Brazilian to win the Mundials at the black-belt level. One of only five men -- Randy Couture, Conor McGregor, Georges St. Pierre and Daniel Cormier are the others -- who have win Ultimate Fighting Championship titles in multiple weight classes, Penn captured the…