Former UFC champion B.J. Penn has been arrested for the sixth time this year by police in Hawaii.
Officers took the 46-year-old into custody in Hilo on Tuesday morning and later released him on $1,000 bail. He’s due in court on December 2.
Once celebrated as one of the UFC’s most gifted fighters, Penn’s reputation has crumbled amid a string of troubling incidents in 2025.
Penn rose to fame as “The Prodigy,” a fearless technician who captured both the lightweight and welterweight titles.
During his peak, he fought legends of the sport and became one of MMA’s most recognisable figures. But his post-career life has been marred by controversy.
Police confirm B.J. Penn arrested
This week’s arrest extends that decline. Police said they received a call from a home in Hilo during the early hours of November 4.
“At 1 a.m., police responded to a report of an assault at a residence on Kanoa Street in Hilo,” officials said. “The 45-year-old male victim reported that Penn punched and kicked him multiple times before the victim was able to leave the area and contact police.”
“The victim later went to Hilo Benioff Medical Center for treatment. At 11:50 a.m., officers found Penn on Lehua Street in Hilo and arrested him without incident.”
The charge — third-degree assault — adds to five previous arrests this year, several linked to domestic allegations and restraining-order violations involving his mother, Lorraine Shin.
Family dispute and mental health concerns
Shin filed a restraining order in early 2025, claiming Penn subjected her to “extreme psychological abuse” and believed she had been replaced by an imposter.
Police reports detail tense encounters at the family home, including damaged locks, taped-over cameras, and missing property.
“I believe my son [B.J. Penn] is suffering from Capgras delusional syndrome,” Shin told police, referencing a psychiatric disorder where someone believes loved ones have been replaced by impostors.
The restraining order remains active until May 2026. In September, a judge ordered a mental health evaluation to determine if Penn is fit to face the current charges. Depending on the outcome, the court could refer him to a treatment facility.
