Ex-UFC star Penn ruled mentally fit to stand trial

A Hawaiian judge has ruled former UFC lightweight and welterweight champion BJ Penn mentally fit to stand trial on domestic violence charges stemming from 2025 allegations involving his mother and violations of a restraining order. Penn, 47, has made repeated public statements claiming his family members have been murdered and replaced by imposters seeking to steal his inheritance, and has asked Hawaiian police to investigate those claims. He was ordered to undergo a mental evaluation in October following a series of arrests in May 2025. The ruling clears the way for trial proceedings, though Penn's mental health statements and beliefs have become increasingly public. The case represents a troubling turn for the decorated fighter, once among the UFC's most accomplished lightweights.