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TRO against BJ Penn details alleged domestic abuse

Christie Wilson
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STAR-ADVERTISER / 2012

BJ Penn poses for a photo at his UFC Gym in Kakaako in 2012. The former UFC champion reportedly terrorized his estranged girlfriend in front of their two daughters and threatened to kill her family, according to a court statement.

Former UFC champion BJ Penn of Hawaii reportedly terrorized his estranged girlfriend in front of their two daughters and threatened to kill her family, according to a court statement that alleges a 10-year pattern of intimidation and physical, sexual and verbal abuse.

Shealen Uaiwa describes a series of disturbing incidents involving Penn in a handwritten statement submitted to Hilo Family Court to justify a temporary restraining order that was issued in October, according to a report by mmajunkie.com.

Attorneys for Uaiwa and Penn did not respond to Honolulu Star-Advertiser requests for comment. One of Penn’s lawyers, John Schmidtke Jr. of Honolulu, told mmajunkie.com the court records were “incomplete” and that he was prevented “by law” from commenting further.

UFC has not issued a statement on Penn’s situation. The 40-year-old Big Island fighter, an early icon of the sport in its fledgling years, came out of retirement in 2017. He lost his last six fights and is scheduled to face Clay Guida at UFC 237 in Rio De Janiero on May 11.

Hawaii Judiciary records show that during an Oct. 23 hearing on Uaiwa’s petition for an order for protection, Penn’s attorney, Charles Heaukulani of Hilo, asked that the proceedings remain confidential. Judge Darien Ching Nagata denied the request.

The order for protection against Penn was extended to Oct. 8, 2021.

During a Feb. 25 hearing, Schmidtke asked that the order be dismissed or at least that Penn’s two children be removed from the order, the records show. His request was denied.

Uaiwa’s handwritten statement, obtained by mmajunkie.com, details an Oct. 7 incident in which she alleges that while attempting to pick up her daughters, Penn came to her car and used profanity to threaten and harass Uaiwa and her mother. She said Penn was making it hard for them to get out of the driveway, “like he wanted to attack me and my mother through the window.”

Penn also reportedly told her that “because you’re not a man you think you can’t get knocked the f—- out,” according to her statement.

The entire incident was witnessed by their two daughters, who also saw Penn “trying to wrestle me down and take my phone away,” she said.

Uaiwa was granted a temporary restraining order against Penn two days later, according to court records.

Her statement also alleges violence, rage, sexual abuse, drunkenness and drug use by the MMA fighter and other turmoil during their 10-year relationship, including instances when Penn tried to get her to have sex with other men. Some of the events were witnessed by members of their families, Uaiwa said.

“I have not reported any of these incidents because of his name, reputation, the control he has had over my life and I was scared,” the statement reads.