UFC Hall of Famer BJ Penn arrested after violating restraining order
BJ Penn, the former UFC welterweight and lightweight champion who once dominated the sport of mixed martial arts, was arrested and released on bail in Hawaii on Monday.
The arrest, Penn’s fifth this year. comes after he violated a court-ordered restraining order filed against him by his mother.
“Hawaii Island police arrested and charged 46-year-old Jay Dee ‘B.J.’ Penn of Hilo, for violating a court order for protection,” Hawaii police said in a statement.
“At 4:03 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 15, 2025, Hilo patrol officers responded to a report of a violation in the area of Puueo Street in Hilo. Upon arrival, officers determined that Penn had entered a property in violation of the terms of a court order for protection in which he is the respondent. Penn was later located in the area and arrested without incident. On Tuesday, Sept. 16, he was charged with violating the order for protection. His bail was set at $2,000, which he later posted.”
Earlier this year, the UFC Hall of Famer failed to appear in court, leading to a bench warrant, and eventually his arrest.
Penn was in violation of his previous bail agreement when he was taken into custody on two separate occasions for abuse of a family or household member.
“The Prodigy” received two bail violations from those two prior arrests and was released from custody after paying a $2,000 bond.
Reports state that Penn requested the bench warrant be recalled after claiming he missed court due to being sick with COVID. The judge did not agree with the former fighter’s reason and issued the warrant.
The judge has also granted a restraining order in favor of Penn’s mother Lorraine Shin, who would like to see her son receive treatment for what appears to be a medical issue resulting in his strange behavior.
“I believe my son [B.J. Penn] 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(a psychiatric disorder in which a person holds a delusion that a friend, spouse, parent, other close family member has been replaced by an identical imposter),” Shin told police when filing for the restraining order. “He believes I’m an imposter who has killed his family to gain control of the family assets.
“In the best interest for my safety, I ask the court for a six month [temporary restraining order] and have my son ordered to get medical treatment or other source of therapy.”
