Bellator welterweight War Machine, born Jon Koppenhaver, has been released from the company in the midst of a domestic abuse case where he allegedly beat up his porn star girlfriend, Christy Mack.
TMZ Sports reports the controversial Brazilian jiu-jitsu brown belt is wanted by Las Vegas police after a three-person physical confrontation early Friday morning left his “significant other” in the hospital. TMZ added:
According to police, War Machine was involved in a three-person altercation early Friday morning at their home in Vegas. Two of the combatants sustained severe, but non-life-threatening injuries and were taken to a hospital. One of the victims is described as the fighter’s ‘significant other.’
As a result of the legal matter, Bellator President Scott Coker told the media outlet that War Machine has been fired:
We have a zero-tolerance policy here at Bellator when it relates to any form of domestic violence, and after learning of this latest incident involving War Machine, Bellator is releasing him from his promotional contract with the organization.
In 2010, War Machine “pleaded guilty to two charges of assault by means of a deadly weapon after a bar brawl in San Diego,” per TMZ.
One of the most active MMA fighters on Twitter, War Machine, 32, gave his thoughts on his latest legal issue Saturday:
I can’t believe this…I must be cursed.
— War Machine (@WarMachine170) August 8, 2014
War Machine made his debut with Bellator in June of last year, scoring a first-round TKO over the unheralded Blas Avena.
He made a quick turnaround against Vaughn Anderson in September in the opening round of the Bellator Season 9 Welterweight Tournament, winning the bout via technical submission when he locked up a rear-naked choke.
Despite being a favorite to win the tourney, War Machine was upset by Ron Keslar in October, getting put to sleep with a rear-naked choke in the first round.
His brief stint with the company was the California native’s latest chance with a major mixed martial arts organization since being cut by the UFC in mid-2008.
John Heinis is a featured columnist for Bleacher Report. He is also the MMA editor for eDraft.com.
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