Former two division UFC champion BJ Penn?s run in the UFC has come to an end as a report from Kevin Iole of Yahoo Sports says the fighter has been released by the promotion.
This comes on the heels of a promise recently made by UFC President Dana White, who stated that Penn would not be fighting in the promotion any longer.
The now released Penn has been going through a myriad of legal issues as of late, including being involved in multiple bar fights, allegedly assaulting an estranged girlfriend and also allegedly threatening a farmer with a machete. It was the bar fight that took place a few weeks back that led White to finally saying that Penn?s services in the UFC were no longer needed.
Penn (16-14-2) will exit the UFC while in the midst of a seven fight losing streak and he hasn?t picked up a victory in nearly nine years. Penn is a former two division champion in the promotion, defeating Matt Hughes to win the UFC Welterweight Title at UFC 46 in January of 2004 and defeating Joe Stevenson at UFC 80 in January of 2008 to win the UFC Lightweight Title. Penn?s last win in the promotion came at UFC 123 in November of 2010, defeating Hughes in their third meeting by first round knockout.
There is no word yet on if Penn will continue fighting, but he is an unrestricted free agent and can sign with whatever promotion that offers a contract.