HONOLULU -- A popular mixed-martial arts fighter on Friday pleaded no contest to reduced charges of allegedly punching a Honolulu police officer.

B.J. Penn was originally charged with assaulting an officer, which is a felony. He pleaded to a misdemeanor charge of third-degree assault on Friday instead.

Penn was involved in a large fight outside a Waikiki nightclub in 2005, police said. As an officer broke up the fight, police said Penn punched him in the face.

Penn's attorney said he does not expect his client to receive jail time when he is sentenced in December.