B.J. Penn, a UFC Hall of Famer and two-division champion, was taken into custody in Hilo, Hawaii, following allegations that he assaulted a 45-year-old man. The incident reportedly occurred at a residence on Kanoa Street in the early hours of Tuesday morning. According to authorities, Penn allegedly struck and kicked the man multiple times.
Police arrested Penn the following morning without resistance. He was charged with third-degree assault and released on a $1,000 bail. His next court appearance is scheduled for December 2nd.
2025 has been a difficult period for Penn. This marks his sixth arrest of the year. Previous incidents include alleged assaults against his mother and violations of restraining orders.
In a court filing, his mother, Lorraine Shin, described serious concerns about Penn’s mental state:
“I believe my son is suffering from Capgras delusional syndrome. A psychiatric disorder in which a person holds a delusion that a friend, spouse, parent, other close family member has been replaced by an identical imposter. He believes I’m an imposter who has killed his family to gain control of the family assets.”
Over the last two years, Penn has shared multiple videos and posts online claiming that family members, politicians, and even other fighters, like Brendan Schaub, are masked entities with malicious intent. At times, he also suggested that he himself might be wearing a mask.
In October, a judge ordered him to undergo a mental health evaluation. However, it is not publicly confirmed whether this assessment has been completed.
Observers are hoping that professional intervention occurs before the situation escalates further.
Despite personal and legal challenges, Penn’s accomplishments inside the cage remain significant. His MMA career spanned 18 years, from 2001 to 2019, with 32 fights, mostly in the UFC. Penn earned recognition as a two-division champion and is widely regarded as one of the sport’s most influential fighters.
