Photo by Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images
The former UFC title challenger was arrested in May.
[CW: The following story discusses multiple incidents of alleged domestic violence]
According to TMZ Anthony ‘Rumble’ Johnson has reached a plea deal with prosecutors in Palm Beach County regarding a misdemeanour domestic battery charge. The charge stems from when Johnson was arrested on May 6th after his girlfriend told police that he picked her up against her will.
A probable cause affidavit stated that Johnson admitted to an arresting officer that he did pick up his girlfriend and moved her to another room of her apartment during an argument. That affidavit recorded the girlfriend as saying she was scared of Johnson during the ordeal, due to his size and “martial arts experience.”
Johnson was facing the possibility of a year in jail over this charge, but thanks to his deal with prosecutors he will forgo a trial and instead enter a pretrial diversion program. TMZ reports that conditions of Johnson’s plea deal include completion of an anger management program by October 21st.
Johnson retired from MMA in 2017 with a record of 22-6, but recently announced his plans to return to the UFC as a heavyweight. His last fight was a submission defeat to Daniel Cormier at UFC 210 during a UFC light heavyweight title contest. That was the second time he competed for that title in his career. The first instance, at UFC 187 in 2015, also featured Johnson losing to Cormier by submission.
This is not Johnson’s first time being on the wrong side of the law. He is currently facing a charge of dating violence (in an unrelated case) and is also the subject of a restraining order in Broward County, FL.
In 2014, Johnson was subject of another restraining order from a woman who accused him of striking her. In 2009 Johnson was charged with domestic violence, battery, death threats, and destroying a phone to prevent the reporting of a crime. He pleaded no contest to those charges and was sentenced to three years probation, community service and ordered to attend domestic violence counseling.
Support for survivors of domestic violence can be found from the following organizations:
USA – The National Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-800-799-SAFE (7233)
Canada – DAWN-RAFH Canada
UK and Ireland – Women’s Aid: 0808-2000-247
Rest of the World – HotPeachPages