B. Penn in UFC fight. Photo: Reproduction/ Facebook UFC
Former UFC welterweight (up to 77kg) and lightweight (70,3kg) champion, B.J. Penn is back in the news outside of mixed martial arts. The athlete suffered a car accident in Hilo, Hawaii, and remains hospitalized in the city's hospital. The athlete's health condition has not yet been disclosed. The information was released by the website 'Big Island Now'.
According to information published in 'Big Island Now', Penn was driving a pickup truck (Toyota Tacoma) at high speed until he lost control of the vehicle and overturned. The fighter was treated by an ambulance and taken to the hospital.
The athlete was the only passenger in the car and there were no other victims at the scene. The police are investigating the possibility that the former UFC fighter was drunk at the time of the incident.
This is not the first recent controversy involving the fighter. At the end of last year, Penn was caught fighting outside a nightclub, also in Hawaii. After the incident, BJ had his contract with UFC suspended and also the guarantee from Dana White, president of the company, that he would never again be seen wearing the organization's gloves.
As an athlete, Penn is experiencing the worst moment of his career. At 41 years old, the fighter, who was once considered one of the biggest names in Ultimate, has not won a fight since November 2010. The athlete has nine defeats in his last 11 appearances.
