UFC Hall of famer, former champ BJ Penn arrested sixth time amid ongoing legal issues

Former Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) athlete B.J. Penn was arrested by the Hawai’i Police on third-degree assault charges on Tuesday, November 4, 2025.

Police said they responded to a call and the 45-year-old victim revealed that Penn had physically assaulted him, punching and kicking him multiple times, “before the alleged victim could leave the area and call police”.

Police added, “The victim later sought medical attention for his injuries at Hilo Benioff Medical Center.”

This isn’t the first time the former UFC champion has landed in legal troubles. He was arrested five times over a four month span on different charges related to his ongoing family dispute last year.

Penn’s last arrest was in September for violating a court-restraining order that his mother obtained against him and is now set to return to court on December 2.

Penn, the first-ever non-Brazilian to win a black belt division title in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, claims that his family has been replaced by imposed after being killed, reports New York Post.

Penn had a decorated career as a mixed martial arts (MMA) athlete. He debuted at UFC 31 in 2001 and clinched the Welterweight title in 2004 and became the Lightweight Champion in 2008.

He became a UFC Hall of Famer in 2015.