B.J. Penn Arrested in Hawaii on Third-Degree Assault Charge

Former UFC two-division champion B.J. Penn was arrested on November 4 in Hilo, Hawaii, on third-degree assault charges after a 45-year-old man reported being punched and kicked inside a residence, police said. Officers located Penn several hours later and took him into custody without incident. Bail was set at $1,000 and has been posted. Penn is scheduled to appear in Hilo District Court on December 2.

Hawaii Island police said they responded at about 1 a.m. to a report of an assault at a residence on Kanoa Street. The alleged victim, who later sought treatment at Hilo Benioff Medical Center for injuries, told officers that Penn "punched and kicked" him multiple times before he was able to leave and contact authorities. Officers located Penn at 11:50 a.m. on Lehua Street, where he was arrested and charged with third-degree assault, according to the police account.

The arrest is the sixth involving Penn so far in 2025 and follows a string of separate incidents earlier this year largely tied to allegations involving family members and violations of court orders. In late May authorities arrested Penn twice on allegations of abuse of a family or household member. His mother,...