Photo by Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images
Lavar Johnson was sentenced to five years for corporal injury of a spouse/cohabitant in 2016.
[CW: The following story includes descriptions of domestic violence]
According to Micheal Fiedel of The Body Lock Ken Shamrock’s bare knuckle boxing promotion Valor Bare Knuckle has signed former UFC and Bellator heavyweight Lavar Johnson. That report states that the 42-year-old Johnson is slated to fight veteran MMA fighter James McSweeney this Saturday at the promotion’s inaugural show in New Town, ND.
Johnson competed for the UFC between 2012 and 2013 before joining Bellator, who he fought for until 2014. In 2015 Johnson was arrested in Fresno, CA and charged with corporal injury to a spouse/cohabitant, assault by means likely to produce great bodily injury, dissuading a witness from reporting a crime, and dissuade by force.
According to the Fresno Bee the victim in this case was Johnson’s girlfriend of seven years. That outlet reported that the victim told investigators that Johnson grabbed her and threw her on the ground, then lifted her back up and struck her in the face with his knee, twice. She said she was then thrown to the floor again and Johnson continued to punch her in the head and face.
Johnson initially pled not guilty to all charges. In 2016, before the case could go to trial, Johnson struck a deal with Fresno County prosecutors. In exchange for him entering a plea of nolo contendere to the most serious charge of corporal injury, he had all other charges dismissed.
A plea of nolo contendere means a defendant accepts a conviction, as if they plead guilty, but does not actually admit guilt.
After he was convicted of corporal injury involving a spouse/cohabitant, Johnson was sentenced to five years in prison. At time of sentencing he was credited for 288 days of time already served.
According to MMAJunkie Johnson was also jailed (for 14 days) in 2007 and sentenced to three years of probation after pleading nolo contendere to a misdemeanor charge of corporal injury of a spouse/cohabitant. After that he was reportedly jailed for 30 days for criminal threats and disobeying a domestic relations court order.
Bloody Elbow contacted Valor Bare Knuckle owner Ken Shamrock and requested a comment regarding the signing of Johnson. At this time of writing, no comment has been received.