Bellator has pulled Dan McGuane, a man convicted in 2005 of manslaughter, after widespread Internet protest.
The promotion Tweeted the news over the weekend, saying simply that he was removed from the Friday event because of a “previous incident”.
The backlash against Bellator was immediate after the fight was announced with the surfacing of the website bandanmacguane.com.
The site gives details of the incident which led to McGuane’s conviction for manslaughter, along with his twin brother Peter, for the killing of teenager Kelly Proctor in Ayer, MA.
“On the evening of Saturday, July 2, 2005, the victim and his girlfriend, Jayme Rotondi, watched part of the town of Ayer’s annual Independence Day fireworks at Pirone Park, but left early to avoid the crowds at the end of the display. As they left the park, the victim and Rotondi passed a group of at least six people walking toward the park… Rotondi noticed one of the defendants staring at her; she smiled, then heard someone laugh. The victim stopped and asked Rotondi, “What are they laughing at?” Peter left the group and walked back toward the victim and asked, “Did you say something? Do you want me to beat your ass in front of your girl?”… At that point, Peter reached over Papalucas’s head and, with an open hand, slapped the victim across the face, knocking from his mouth a straw on which he had been chewing. After Peter slapped the victim, Daniel joined in the attack. Both defendants punched the victim several times. The victim began crawling, trying to escape the assault.”
The victim, Proctor, eventually died from the beating.
Bellator acted quickly to remove McGuane from the fight card after articles published on websites such as Bloodyelbow.com, which were vociferous in their condemnation of the promotion for signing him.
This isn’t the first time Bellator courted controversy for their signings, either. Brett Rogers was charged last year for third degree assault on his wife and was immediately released by Strikeforce. However, this year, he’s found his way into Bellator where he fights as a heavyweight.
And Jon Koppenhaver, otherwise known as the War Machine, is another convicted felon signed with Bellator. He was given a contract in December 2011 but is yet to fight for the promotion after receiving another prison sentence for a prior assault.
McGuane’s slated opponent for Bellator 81, Mike Mucitelli, is yet to be given a replacement opponent.
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