The MMA world is no stranger to the toll combat sports can take on an athlete’s long-term health. Damage done inside the Octagon builds up over time, and fighters are left dealing with the dire effects long after their careers are over.
When fighters endanger themselves or their loved ones, however, their fight is no longer about titles or glory; it’s about survival.
UFC Hall of Famer and former champion B.J. Penn has been displaying erratic behavior escalating in the past month, sparking concerns about his mental health. In recent social media posts, Penn made bold claims that his mother, Lorraine Shin, and brothers Jay Dee Penn, Reagan Penn and Kalani Mamazuka have all been murdered and replaced by impostors.
B.J. Penn
© Jason Silva-Imagn Images
In his most recent video, he urges the police to investigate people who he claims are taking his family members’ identities.
Watch the full video here (viewer discretion is advised):
This latest video is just one in a series of posts claiming his family members have been replaced by impostors. He also shared a video showing photos of his brother JD, claiming that one of the photos is of an impostor.
Penn added a disturbing caption to the video, which reads, “If I harm any of these people that are acting like my mom or my brothers, I go to jail and lose everything. If they harm me, nothing will happen to them and I lose everything.”
Last month, Penn posted Instagram videos in which he appears to not recognize his mother, Lorraine Shin.
Penn’s troubles extend beyond mental health. His post-retirement life has been marred by legal issues, including a bar brawl that went viral in 2019, which prompted UFC CEO Dana White to release him from the company. A failed 2022 gubernatorial campaign in Hawaii further highlighted his instability, with his mother even appearing in promotional videos for his bid.
His legacy as one of MMA’s most gifted fighters adds a tragic layer to his downfall. A two-division UFC champion and the youngest World Jiu-Jitsu champion at 21, he was once hailed as one of the greatest lightweights in the history of the sport. Whether or not Penn gets the help he needs could determine the next chapter in a life that has swung from brilliance to turmoil.
