UFC postpones BJ Penn's return amid allegations

[Andrewsimar Palhardass]

“UFC is aware of the recent allegations made against BJ Penn. The organization requires all athletes who compete in the UFC to act in an ethical and responsible manner, as detailed in the UFC Fighter Conduct Policy. UFC will not tolerate violations of the policy. Every athlete is deserving of proper review and this situation, as with any serious allegation, will be investigated by an independent party and thoroughly reviewed by the UFC. The UFC organization will also cooperate with any law enforcement investigation. In light of the serious allegations, UFC has postponed plans to book Penn for an upcoming bout until more details are determined.

UFC holds athletes who compete in the organization to the highest standard and will continue to take appropriate action, if and when warranted. It is important to note that Penn is considered innocent until proven guilty and UFC is not prejudging this matter.”

LINK: UFC postpones BJ Penn's return amid allegations

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This is not going away, for now at least. I have a feeling this is going to be like the Travis Browne situation, where they don't have enough evidence to punish him. The UFC is in an interesting situation when things like this happen, because they don't want to make an irrational decision that costs the guy his career, but there is a huge call for the protection of female abuse victims nowadays (rightfully so). All I can say is that if BJ did this, I really hope the UFC can find the evidence and get him out of the picture. The truth is an illusive bastard sometimes, in either direction.

 

[The EZ Life]

just let him fight. the ufc doesn't need to conduct any investigation or hire anyone to do it. if by independent party they mean the police then go for it. if the police decide BJ Penn is guilty of something then the UFC can worry about cancelling his fight

 

[Punch]

just let him fight. the ufc doesn't need to conduct any investigation or hire anyone to do it. if by independent party they mean the police then go for it. if the police decide BJ Penn is guilty of something then the UFC can worry about cancelling his fight

I think this is just the UFC distancing themselves from any potential negative backlash. This is standard operating procedure for them.

 

[dacofty]

Maybe BJ should start dating rousey so his charges and investigation will be swept under the already crowded UFC rug

 

[The EZ Life]

I think this is just the UFC distancing themselves from any potential negative backlash. This is standard operating procedure for them.

yep im just wondering about the independent party part and if they are hiring an independent party to investigate, why? I understand the reason why they need to comment on it..to protect themselves and whatnot. i'm just saying an investigation should just be done by the law enforcement that are already investigating his case and if it is then my comments are pointless!

 

[Yossarian]

Maybe BJ should start dating rousey so his charges and investigation will be swept under the already crowded UFC rug

 

[Andrewsimar Palhardass]

yep im just wondering about the independent party part and if they are hiring an independent party to investigate, why? I understand the reason why they need to comment on it..to protect themselves and whatnot. i'm just saying an investigation should just be done by the law enforcement that are already investigating his case and if it is then my comments are pointless!

Litigation can take a long time. If the UFC lets him fight and he is eventually proven to have committed these crimes, then the UFC let a sexual predator fight for them after they were told that he was a sexual predator. It is a lot more complicated than "just let him fight". From a PR standpoint, it makes no sense to let BJ fight until he is cleared. From a human standpoint, you don't want to carry on as if a guy who hasn't fought for your organization in years (meaning he isn't that important going forward) is more important than his victim, or like a fight is more important than the things that he is accused of. What he is being accused of is very serious. This isn't a traffic ticket, you know?

 

[The EZ Life]

Litigation can take a long time. If the UFC lets him fight and he is eventually proven to have committed these crimes, then the UFC let a sexual predator fight for them after they were told that he was a sexual predator. It is a lot more complicated than "just let him fight". From a PR standpoint, it makes no sense to let BJ fight until he is cleared. From a human standpoint, you don't want to carry on as if a guy who hasn't fought for your organization in years (meaning he isn't that important going forward) is more important than his victim, or like a fight is more important than the things that he is accused of. What he is being accused of is very serious. This isn't a traffic ticket, you know?

Yeah, I get it but isn't there a thing called innocent until proven guilty? If people are really innocent until proven guilty, BJ shouldn't be punished before he is even proven to be a criminal. Although I understand the PR standpoint and stuff. No single event with BJ will bring in enough money to counteract, if it happens, a guilty verdict that negatively influences the UFC's business. My view is just that of someone who wants to see BJ Penn fight at least one last time and not suck.

 

[Andrewsimar Palhardass]

Yeah, I get it but isn't there a thing called innocent until proven guilty? If people are really innocent until proven guilty, BJ shouldn't be punished before he is even proven to be a criminal. Although I understand the PR standpoint and stuff. No single event with BJ will bring in enough money to counteract, if it happens, a guilty verdict that negatively influences the UFC's business. My view is just that of someone who wants to see BJ Penn fight at least one last time and not suck.

I understand your position, and we do all have the right to due process, but BJ hasn't really been punished yet. They have postponed his fight, but they haven't fired him. Had they immediately cut him I would be more inclined to agree with you. If he is found to have probably done this, they will release him. If he's not they will allow him to fight. As of now they are just postponing things to see how they shake out. I fully support it.

 

[member 3289]

Maybe BJ should start dating rousey so his charges and investigation will be swept under the already crowded UFC rug

 

[The EZ Life]

I understand your position, and we do all have the right to due process, but BJ hasn't really been punished yet. They have postponed his fight, but they haven't fired him. Had they immediately cut him I would be more inclined to agree with you. If he is found to have probably done this, they will release him. If he's not they will allow him to fight. As of now they are just postponing things to see how they shake out. I fully support it.

i agree. It should be postponed which is fine.. it is still somewhat punishing though... it is costing him months of his life dedicated to training and not being able to fight and get that money!! but yeah, they are handling it well. you have pointed that out

 

[Hong Kong Phooey]

Can he still jump out of the ocean onto a volcano in Hilo ? Motivated

 

[LurkenLikaGherkin]

Handicapping: probably the UFC does a lot more than 90% of the "MMA Journalists" out there have done, and makes calls/emails to the Cynthia figure and others close to the BJ camp who could at least give some indication of the events, perhaps with some legal advisement & assurances (maybe even in writing) to the players, protecting them from litigation, ensuring privacy of comments, etc. -- this could potentially take less than an hour in each case --and then weighs the risk/cost/reward balance and revisits the possibility of making a fight.

The UFC will probably get at least a moderately firm picture of things -- firm enough to make an initial call -- long before any media or law enforcement do. How dumb is that.

 

[The EZ Life]

Yeah that's true ^^^^. How big of a negative impact could the UFC have if they just let BJ Penn fight and then he was afterwards proven to be a criminal? Just wondering because I just wanna see what you think the possibilities are in that case

 

[hit4me4]

BJ has been distracted by a damn cheeseburger or some nice waves, shit, anything has made the guy loose his focus in the past. Do you really think he's going to be 100% focused with THIS going on? Postponing the fight was best for BJ and the UFC. Let him work with his lawyers, get his head straight, and try to stay out of jail. He should be giving title shot preparation to not ending up in prison.

 

[LurkenLikaGherkin]

Yeah that's true ^^^^. How big of a negative impact could the UFC have if they just let BJ Penn fight and then he was afterwards proven to be a criminal? Just wondering because I just wanna see what you think the possibilities are in that case

As obsessed and excitable as the public is for any prurient story about a high profile athlete, no major sports organization is going to let someone with something like this (the filed police report makes it substantial, until the report/charge is resolved) hanging over her/his head harm the organization by association.

IMO the UFC probably sees its own conclusion as holding more water than law enforcement, in advance of a legal conclusion/decision (example: Browne situation), but they can't let him fight. No PR firm would look at that possibility as anything but...must quote Mike Tyson (aptly?)...ludicruth.

 

[The EZ Life]

As obsessed and excitable as the public is for any prurient story about a high profile athlete, no major sports organization is going to let someone with something like this (the filed police report makes it substantial, until the report/charge is resolved) hanging over her/his head harm the organization by association.

IMO the UFC probably sees its own conclusion as holding more water than law enforcement, in advance of a legal conclusion/decision (example: Browne situation), but they can't let him fight. No PR firm would look at that possibility as anything but...must quote Mike Tyson (aptly?)...ludicruth.

Yes but what do you think would happen if he fought and then was later proven guilty. Would Reebok and others dissociate itself from the UFC? Do you think PPV numbers would go down? Would any legal action be taken against the UFC? Or is it simply just bad publicity and the effects that that has ("any publicity is good publicity", so who cares)

 

[Punch]

Yes but what do you think would happen if he fought and then was later proven guilty. Would Reebok and others dissociate itself from the UFC? Do you think PPV numbers would go down? Would any legal action be taken against the UFC? Or is it simply just bad publicity and the effects that that has ("any publicity is good publicity", so who cares)

That's a interesting question; I too am curious.

 

[Andrewsimar Palhardass]

As obsessed and excitable as the public is for any prurient story about a high profile athlete, no major sports organization is going to let someone with something like this (the filed police report makes it substantial, until the report/charge is resolved) hanging over her/his head harm the organization by association.

IMO the UFC probably sees its own conclusion as holding more water than law enforcement, in advance of a legal conclusion/decision (example: Browne situation), but they can't let him fight. No PR firm would look at that possibility as anything but...must quote Mike Tyson (aptly?)...ludicruth.

I agree here. The UFC cannot risk looking like they did any favors for a sexual predator.

By the way I don't currently have the links because I am at work, but Jeremy Botter says he has known about this for months and that it is much worse than has been reported so far. He also said that the police have a lot of evidence. Not looking good for Mr. Baby J.

 

[Punch]

I agree here. The UFC cannot risk looking like they did any favors for a sexual predator.

By the way I don't currently have the links because I am at work, but Jeremy Botter says he has known about this for months and that it is much worse than has been reported so far. He also said that the police have a lot of evidence. Not looking good for Mr. Baby J.

@Wild is gonna shit bricks if true... Hell i might drop a pebble or two.

 

[Andrewsimar Palhardass]

Yes but what do you think would happen if he fought and then was later proven guilty. Would Reebok and others dissociate itself from the UFC? Do you think PPV numbers would go down? Would any legal action be taken against the UFC? Or is it simply just bad publicity and the effects that that has ("any publicity is good publicity", so who cares)

I don't know that there will be a measurable detriment, but public perception is huge, especially in a sport that is as controversial as MMA. The UFC is trying to get its sport legalized in an American state. Allowing BJ to fight could have huge political implications, because those who are lobbying against MMA as barbaric could now point out the fact that the promotion allowed a guy who allegedly did these terrible things to work for them.

 

[dacofty]

I don't know that there will be a measurable detriment, but public perception is huge, especially in a sport that is as controversial as MMA. The UFC is trying to get its sport legalized in an American state. Allowing BJ to fight could have huge political implications, because those who are lobbying against MMA as barbaric could now point out the fact that the promotion allowed a guy who allegedly did these terrible things to work for them.

I think this may actually be good for BJ, delaying a fight might be a good thing considering how Edgar dismantled him in his last outing.

 

[LurkenLikaGherkin]

Come on, guys. If the UFC let him fight, with the allegations being public, and he was found guilty, it'd be a PR nightmare. "Haters" and people who have a moral center would never let it go (or, they would, like with Mike Tyson, but in the meantime the damage would be profound). It'd be a huge story, with heavy, concrete material effects.

It'd also be morally/ethically repugnant, and the UFC would deserve whatever negative effects it earned in that event.

Not everything is a question of profit margins and maximizing profits. It's completely insane how easy it is to forget that.

 

[Andrewsimar Palhardass]

I think this may actually be good for BJ, delaying a fight might be a good thing considering how Edgar dismantled him in his last outing.

For fighting purposes, taking some extra time can be a good thing. Absolutely nothing else about this is good for anybody.

 

[hit4me4]

Yes but what do you think would happen if he fought and then was later proven guilty. Would Reebok and others dissociate itself from the UFC? Do you think PPV numbers would go down? Would any legal action be taken against the UFC? Or is it simply just bad publicity and the effects that that has ("any publicity is good publicity", so who cares)

There is nothing good that would come from the publicity from these charges. None.