BJ Penn has been arrested again. This time, Penn was arrested on suspicion of a DUI and has since been released pending investigation. Previously, we had seen videos of Penn engaging in a brawl outside a bar, and that was ultimately what led to him being removed from the UFC roster.
Penn’s troubles, like so many other fighters just in recent years, but recent months, too, lead to the inevitable question of whether the UFC and major MMA promotions are doing enough for fighter health.
There’s a long history of fighters having mental health issues during and after their career.
A 2020 survey by The Athletic found that 61.2% of surveyed fighters worry about long-term brain damage because of their MMA careers. And 21.2% of those surveyed feel like they’re already experiencing at least some effects from brain trauma/CTE in their daily life.
In this video, Patrick Auger and Matthew Wells explain why it’s time for the UFC and other major promotions to do more for fighter health.
What would you like to see happen? What makes the most sense? Would you donate to a fighter wellbeing fund as Matthew Wells suggested? Leave your thoughts below in the comments section.