BJ Penn KO’d By Airbag In Hilo Crash

Former Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) two-division champion, BJ Penn, was hospitalized earlier this week after crashing his Toyota Tacoma in Hilo, Hawaii, an incident that prompted police to launch a DUI investigation.

But what law enforcement has reported may not be in line with what actually happened, according to family rep Gary Levitt, who told MMA Fighting that photos from the scene of the wreck will contradict the current narrative.

”No one has the facts yet, and from the facts we have looked at, the truck never flipped, there was not extensive damage on it that they say there was, and B.J. was, in fact, knocked out because the front airbag deployed,” Levitt said. “He was taken to the hospital and then a short time later, he was taken for scans because he was knocked out and he was going in and out. Then, they released him from the hospital.”

It’s been a rough couple of years for Penn, 41, who lost seven straight fights inside the Octagon. In addition to multiple street fights, “The Prodigy” has also seen his fair share of alcohol-related incidents in his native Hawaii (like this one).

Penn (16-14) was expected to have his farewell fight last November, but video leaked of yet another bar brawl and promotion president, Dana White, was forced to pull the plug in hopes the former lightweight could focus on his personal problems.