BJ Penn shocked fans with a heartfelt Instagram video, begging UFC CEO Dana White for help. The former UFC champion said he’s been pushed out of his lifelong home in Hilo, Hawaii, and faces arrest if he returns. Penn also called out Lorenzo Fertitta and sponsors, claiming he’s about to lose everything.
Penn’s Emotional Plea Goes Viral
Standing outside his family home, Penn looked broken as he spoke.
He said, “This message is for Dana White and Lorenzo Fertitta. I need your help. I’ve been pushed out. This is the house I grew up in. I’ve lived here my whole life.” Pointing to the house, he added, “I fought in the UFC, became a world champion, and all that stuff. And Mark Mastrov’s UFC gyms—I know we do really well to help promote the UFC gym companies.”
Penn claimed an “army” took over nearby houses, forcing him into a tiny studio.
He showed the studio, saying:
“They’ve got me staying in this studio right over here. They want me to do my laundry at the laundromat. I’m the world champion. I’m the one who went out there and took the punches, took the blows.” Penn said he risks arrest if he approaches his home for his dogs or belongings, adding, “If any of my sponsors out there—I stayed extra long, or I did anything, because if I was going to do a signing, I never left early. I always stayed, even if I had to stay longer.”
Penn closed, saying:
“Here I am, getting pushed out of everything, about to have everything stolen from me. All the money I made from the UFC, UFC gyms, all my sponsors—I invested it all back into my family, into everything. Every dollar I made, I invested back in. I’m about to have it all taken from me, and I need your help. Dana White, Lorenzo Fertitta, Pat Tenore, come down this time and help, please. That’s it. That’s all I gotta say.” Via
BJ Penn, born in Hilo, Hawaii, is a UFC Hall of Famer and MMA pioneer. Starting Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu at 17, he earned a black belt in 2000, one of the first Americans to do so. Penn debuted in the UFC in 2001, knocking out Joey Gilbert. He won the lightweight title in 2004 by submitting Matt Hughes at UFC 46 and the welterweight title in 2008 against Joe Stevenson, becoming a rare two-division champion. His 16-14-2 record includes wins over Hughes, Jens Pulver, and Sean Sherk.
Penn’s later career struggled. He lost his final seven UFC fights from 2011 to 2019 against fighters like Rory MacDonald, Frankie Edgar, and Clay Guida. The UFC released him in 2019 after a bar fight video surfaced. Penn faced legal issues, including arrests in 2025 for alleged abuse and violating restraining orders tied to disputes with his mother, Lorraine Shin. Shin claimed Penn believed she was an imposter, possibly due to Capgras syndrome, a delusion disorder.
Penn’s video reveals his dire situation since leaving the UFC. At 46, he claims to have invested over $3 million in UFC earnings into his family, only to face losing it all. His plea to White, Fertitta, and RVCA’s Pat Tenore shows desperation. White once sent aid to ex-UFC fighter Ben Askren, raising hope for Penn. However, Penn’s legal troubles, including a restraining order from his mother, complicate matters.
Penn’s future is unclear. A court order bars him from his mother’s home for at least 180 days, with hearings pending for alleged restraining order violations. His plea may prompt action from White or sponsors, but no response has been reported.
