UFC Hall of Famer B.J. Penn is once again sharing his controversial opinion on chronic traumatic encephalopathy, otherwise known as CTE.
Penn, who holds the distinction of being one of the few fighters in promotional history to capture world titles in two different weight classes, has seen his illustrious mixed martial arts legacy overshadowed by a series of confusing and controversial statements. In addition to denying the existence of dinosaurs and COVID-19, ‘The Prodigy’ has also taken a strong stand against CTE, a neurodegenerative disease linked to repeated trauma to the head.
Athletes, particularly those competing in contact sports such as football, MMA, and boxing, are considered to be at considerable risk of showing symptoms of CTE, which occur in four stages, and generally appear eight to ten years after an individual experiences repetitive mild traumatic brain injuries.