UFC legend B.J. Penn arrested on charge of abuse of family or household member

Former UFC champion B.J. Penn is in trouble with the law once again.

UFC legend B.J. Penn is in trouble with the law again.

The former two-division UFC champion was arrested this past Sunday in Hilo, Hawaii, on charges of abuse of a family or household member, according to the Hawaii Police Department media booking log obtained by MMA Junkie. The news was reported Tuesday by MMA Fighting.

Penn, 46, also posted a video documenting the arrest to his Instagram account. He was taken by police and later released on $2,000 bail. Penn was due in court Tuesday.

Penn’s video shows him laying in bed, questioning multiple officers for the reason of his arrest, which they communicated was for harassment. After a back-and-forth, Penn stood up from the bed, was handcuffed, and taken away.

Penn posted a caption along with the video:

“In Hawaii, ‘impostor theft’ refers to instances where individuals falsely impersonate others, often to steal their identity or commit fraudulent acts. This can involve using a fake identity to obtain documents, financial accounts, or even posing as law enforcement or other professionals to commit crimes.”

In recent months, Penn has claimed in numerous posts that his parents and siblings were murdered and replaced by impostors. These adamant and continuous claims have worried many in the MMA community, including several of his fellow fighters such as Brendan Schaub and Jason Miller.

This isn’t the first time Penn has been involved with the law. In the years before and following his retirement in 2019, Penn has experienced a number of legal troubles, including DUI arrests and a bar brawl assault that led to his UFC release.

Penn is considered one of the greatest lightweights of all time and a pioneer for the division. He’s a former UFC lightweight and welterweight champion. Penn was inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame in 2015.

Penn fought 32 times as a professional fighter, a career that spanned from 2001 to 2019. Penn, who was known for his durability and skill, lost four times by TKO/KO and was involved in many wars. Some have attributed his troubles and erratic behaviors in recent years to brain trauma.