Former UFC fighter BJ Penn arrested for third-degree assault

UFC Hall of Famer BJ Penn has been arrested once again, continuing an alarming year filled with law enforcement run-ins for the former world champ.

The Hawaiian ex-MMA fighter was arrested on Tuesday morning and charged with third-degree assault, per a report from local news station KITV. The victim, who alleged he escaped after getting punched and kicked numerous times, went to a hospital due to injuries he suffered from the incident.

Penn, 46, has since been released on a $1,000 bail. He’s now expected to appear in court on December 2 for the case.

This year has been nothing short of concerning for Penn, who has repeatedly made headlines for getting arrested.

Penn’s mother, Lorraine Shin, received a protective order against him earlier this year, alleging that the ex-UFC star suffers from Capgras delusional syndrome, a neurological condition where someone begins to falsely believe that “a family member or close friend is an imposter.”

“[He thinks] I am not Lorraine Shin, I killed his family and have taken over his mother’s identity, and he wants me to be removed from his home,” Shin said in a temporary restraining order filing earlier this year.

Penn has been arrested on a series of occasions this year for violating a protective order placed against him.

About Jack Wannan 1258 Articles
Jack Wannan is a journalist from Toronto, Ontario, Canada. He writes and reports on professional wrestling, along with other topics like MMA, boxing, music, local news, and more. He graduated from Toronto Metropolitan University in 2023 with a bachelor's degree in journalism. He can be reached at jackwannancanada@gmail.com