Former UFC fighter BJ Penn has landed himself in legal trouble again in Hawaii following his arrest for allegedly assaulting a man early Tuesday morning, as reported by local law enforcement.
Officers arrived at a home in Hilo around 1 a.m. after receiving a call about an assault. A 45-year-old man reported that Penn had “punched and kicked” him several times before fleeing the scene and contacting the authorities.
As a result, the victim sought medical attention at Hilo Benioff Medical Center.
Later, at about 11:50 a.m., police located Penn and took him into custody without incident, charging him with third-degree assault.
Bail was set at $1,000, which Penn was able to post.
He is expected to appear in court again on December 2nd.
This incident marks Penn’s first legal issue of the year, following five arrests in the previous four months due to ongoing family disputes.
His most recent arrest before this incident occurred in September, when he violated a restraining order issued by his mother, Lorraine Singh.
Previously, in May, he had been arrested for family abuse charges after reportedly forcing his mother into a car.
Penn, now 46, had expressed that his family was being supplanted by fraudsters following a recent tragedy.
Before his troubled times, he was recognized as a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu talent, notably becoming the first non-Brazilian to win a black belt title at the World Jiu-Jitsu Championships, and later transitioning into MMA.
He made his UFC debut at UFC 31 and captured the UFC Welterweight Championship in 2004, followed by the Lightweight Championship in 2008.
Penn last fought in the UFC on May 11, 2019, and was inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame in 2015.
