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SPORTS

Hawaii police begin second-degree sexual assault investigation of BJ Penn

By Elias Cepeda FoxSports
Published | Updated
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LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 6: BJ Penn speaks during the Ultimate Fighter Finale post fight press conference inside the Mandalay Bay Events Center on July 6, 2014 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** BJ Penn

MMA Fighting reports that the police in former lightweight and welterweight champion BJ Penn's home town have begun a sexual-assault investigation of allegations made against the fighter by the girlfriend of the former editor of his website.

"Hilo (Hawaii) Police Department has launced a second-degree assault investigation into the UFC legend stemming from allegations made by the girlfriend of a former employee," the report reads.

"The alleged victim filed an incident report in February regarding the matter in Delaware County (Ohio), where she currently lives. Hilo PD public information officer Chris Loos confirmed to MMA Fighting on Monday that the Hilo PD received a hard copy of that incident report last week."

Penn said through a statement two months ago that the allegations made public by his former website editor were attempts at extorting him. No charges have been filed against Penn on this matter, yet, as far as we know.

In February, the UFC put plans to book Penn in a return fight on hold until they knew more about the allegations of sexual assault against the fighter. Last week the UFC announced that they'd gone ahead and matched Penn and Dennis Siver in a June 4 fight after a law firm they'd hired to "evaluate the situation" had done so.

The promotion also said, then, through a statement that it "reserves the right to reevaluate the matter should new information be made available." So far, the UFC has not released any new statement since this reported development, but we will keep you posted with additional news as it becomes available.