UFC great B.J. Penn was arrested in Hawaii on Tuesday after violating a court-ordered restraining order, marking his fifth arrest in the calendar year.
Penn’s mother, Lorraine Shin, had been granted a one-year order of protection against the UFC Hall of Famer in August after she successfully petitioned for a temporary restraining order against her son.
The 46-year-old former lightweight and welterweight champ has claimed that his family had been killed and replaced by impostors.
“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 about the latest arrest.
“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.”
Penn was previously arrested on May 25 and May 26 of this year, and then again on May 30 and June 12.
Shin initially filed the restraining order after Penn had been arrested on abuse allegations after an altercation between her and Penn at home, which led to Penn allegedly grabbing “my arms and shoved me against the 4-door gray sedan, which I felt a sharp pain in my back,” Shin wrote in her request for a restraining order.
The incident — which began when Shin confronted Penn about stealing her mail after a series of bizarre incidents — led to his first arrest. And after violating an order to stay away from his mother the following day, May 26, Penn was arrested again.
Shin claims that her son is dealing with the rare psychological disorder, Capgras syndrome, which she believes is causing him to think that his family has been replaced.
Trials are scheduled for Penn for late October and early May.
Penn hasn’t fought for UFC in 2019.
