The partner of former Bellator MMA and The Ultimate Fighter contestant “War Machine” testified against the former fighter in court on Friday. Mack proceeded to tell the court about shocking details involving threats, abuse and torment at the hands of the former MMA star. Mack, who is the much-publicized alleged victim in the trial involving “War Machine” (born […]
The partner of former Bellator MMA and The Ultimate Fighter contestant “War Machine” testified against the former fighter in court on Friday. Mack proceeded to tell the court about shocking details involving threats, abuse and torment at the hands of the former MMA star. Mack, who is the much-publicized alleged victim in the trial involving “War Machine” (born […]
Being that he’s currently on trial for some 34 charges including the attempted murder and sexual assault of his former girlfriend, Christy Mack, we could pretty much close the book on former UFC/Bellator fighter War Machine undergoing a series of personal changes that completely redeemed him in our eyes. That said, recent developments in the trial of one John J. (for Jerkface) Koppenhaver have managed to somehow lower our previously un-lowerable opinion of the man.
Being that he’s currently on trial for some 34 charges including the attempted murder and sexual assault of his former girlfriend, Christy Mack, we could pretty much close the book on former UFC/Bellator fighter War Machine undergoing a series of personal changes that completely redeemed him in our eyes. That said, recent developments in the trial of one John J. (for Jerkface) Koppenhaver have managed to somehow lower our previously un-lowerable opinion of the man.
First let’s start with the case his lawyer, Brandon Sua, put forth in Kopenhaver’s preliminary hearing on Monday, which is the most batsh*t insane defense we’ve heard since Anderson Silva’s NSAC hearing. (via the Las Vegas Review):
Defense lawyers also argued that Mackinday’s work in pornography pointed to consent and that Koppenhaver and Mackinday often engaged in rough sex.
Mackinday’s career lead to her “desire, the preference, the acceptability towards a particular form of sex activities that were outside of the norm,” Sua said.
Koppenhaver met Mackinday while making an adult movie.
“The jury needs to know the nature of this relationship, and what was customary and consensual,” Sua said outside the courtroom.
So basically, because Mack was a pornstar, she was unable to be raped. Ho. Lee. Shit.
This argument was, of course, immediately challenged by Chief Deputy District Attorney Jacqueline Bluth, who made the obvious observation that a person’s (perceived) preferences in their professional life does not translate into their personal one. District Judge Elissa Cadish seemed to agree, stating, “I don’t see how any of those activities that she did in adult movies would ever show her consent to the acts with the defendant that he’s charged with. I’m not seeing that connection.”
As if that wasn’t icky enough, Koppenhaver then responded by blowing Bluth a kiss.
“Judge, for the record, Mr. Koppenhaver just blew a kiss at me,” she said.
Defense attorney Brandon Sua said he didn’t see it.
“I’m not going to make up that he blew a kiss at me, which I find offensive,” Bluth said.
District Judge Elissa Cadish turned to the defendant, who was seated in the jury box, while shackled and wearing an orange prison jumpsuit: “Mr. Koppenhaver, stop. You are not to make any gestures of any kind toward counsel. Don’t go there.”
Even the most diehard defender of all tings MMA will tell you that it’s become increasingly difficult to overlook the disturbing relationship (for lack of a better term) between those who compete in the sport professionally and domestic violence. It’s not that domestic violence isn’t a saddeningly regular occurrence across the board in professional sports, it’s that most sports don’t train their athletes to become trained killing machines in addition to hulking physical specimens, and as such, hearing of the atrocities that guys like Travis Browne, Anthony Johnson, and Thiago Silva have been linked to tends to perpetuate the stereotype about the sport and its fans tenfold.
So when it was announced that HBO’s Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel would be airing a feature-length investigation into “domestic violence in MMA” centering around War Machine’s abuse of Christy Mack, our reaction here at Castle CagePotato went something like this…
Details on the upcoming special/more clips of BG throwing up are after the jump.
Even the most diehard defender of all tings MMA will tell you that it’s become increasingly difficult to overlook the disturbing relationship (for lack of a better term) between those who compete in the sport professionally and domestic violence. It’s not that domestic violence isn’t a saddeningly regular occurrence across the board in professional sports, it’s that most sports don’t train their athletes to become trained killing machines in addition to hulking physical specimens, and as such, hearing of the atrocities that guys like Travis Browne, Anthony Johnson, and Thiago Silva have been linked to tends to perpetuate the stereotype about the sport and its fans tenfold.
So when it was announced that HBO’s Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel would be airing a feature-length investigation into “domestic violence in MMA” centering around War Machine’s abuse of Christy Mack, our reaction here at Castle CagePotato went something like this…
Which was then followed by this…
Because despite its increasing popularity and fancy apparel deals, MMA is very much still struggling to gain mainstream acceptance as “legitimate” sport, so the idea that an audience as large as HBO’s would be given a window into the sport through one of its most despicable figures is a sickening prospect to say the least.
Of course, this recently released preview of the special, in which Christy Mack details the night War Machine nearly beat her and her friend to death, is quite possibly the only thing more sickening.
Ugh. There is just no way that our sport comes out looking even remotely good after this, is there?
But then again, maybe this special will serve as the intervention that MMA has long needed regarding its fighters and violence outside of the cage. One needs to look no further than the UFC’s treatment of the Thiago Silva situation (or the Anthony Johnson situation, or the Jeremy Stephens one…) to see that a higher system of accountability needs to be established regarding domestic violence not just in MMA, but in all sports. In short, we are providing wingnut organizations like the Culinary Union with all the ammo they need to continue their war against MMA through sheer inconsistency and stupidity, and HBO is about to lay bare those inconsistencies for the world to see.
Real Sports debuts Tuesday, July 21 at 10pm ET on HBO. The official description for the episode is as follows.
Outside of the Cage. Last summer, just as news of Baltimore running back Ray Rice’s violent assault on his fiancée in a hotel elevator was about to make headlines, a far more brutal domestic violence attack involving a pro athlete had just taken place. But the beating that nearly killed former adult film star Christy Mack, allegedly at the hands of the MMA welterweight known as War Machine, flew largely under the radar.
High-profile sports like football and boxing, the father of all fight sports, have long dealt with athletes’ domestic violence toward women. But the newly minted American combat sport Mixed Martial Arts, which showcases the world’s most violent athletes, has largely escaped mainstream scrutiny of its fighters’ conduct. REAL SPORTS correspondent David Scott investigates domestic violence among pro MMA fighters and efforts by MMA organizations to address it, and talks to Christy Mack, who for the first time tells the harrowing story of what she says was an abusive relationship with a trained professional fighter and the assault that nearly took her life.
We now go to former CP managing editor, Ben Goldstein, for an official response…
As you may have heard, the MMA fighter known as War Machine attempted suicide last Tuesday night at the Clark County Detention Center in Las Vegas, where he is being held on dozens of charges related to assaults on ex-girlfriend Christy Mack. According to TMZ’s initial report, War Machine was found unresponsive on the floor of his cell with a piece of linen tied around his neck, and is currently on suicide watch. A suicide note was recovered from the cell, and somehow, TMZ got its hands on that, too.
You can see the scanned three-page letter right here, or read our transcription below. Short version: War Machine quotes Friedrich Nietzsche, professes his undying love for Christy Mack, says goodbye to his family and friends, and laments that he just wasn’t made for these times.
*******
“To die proudly when it is no longer possible to live proudly.” -Nietzsche-
If you are reading this then it must be a rap. I refuse to live a parasitic life, relying on taxes and the generosity of friends for food and shelter, while never being able to give back. I always used to say, “You gotta know when the gig is up.” I had a good run. I experienced more in my short life than 5 avg. men combined.
To: Christy, my one: I truly love you and planned on being with you forever. I know that I had many flaws and that I wasn’t the best BF at times. [Ed. note: Dude.] When I left you in May it didn’t take me long to realize my mistake. I loved you more than freedom.
(Image via TMZ)
As you may have heard, the MMA fighter known as War Machine attempted suicide last Tuesday night at the Clark County Detention Center in Las Vegas, where he is being held on dozens of charges related to assaults on ex-girlfriend Christy Mack. According to TMZ’s initial report, War Machine was found unresponsive on the floor of his cell with a piece of linen tied around his neck, and is currently on suicide watch. A suicide note was recovered from the cell, and somehow, TMZ got its hands on that, too.
You can see the scanned three-page letter right here, or read our transcription below. Short version: War Machine quotes Friedrich Nietzsche, professes his undying love for Christy Mack, says goodbye to his family and friends, and laments that he just wasn’t made for these times.
*******
“To die proudly when it is no longer possible to live proudly.” -Nietzsche-
If you are reading this then it must be a rap. I refuse to live a parasitic life, relying on taxes and the generosity of friends for food and shelter, while never being able to give back. I always used to say, “You gotta know when the gig is up.” I had a good run. I experienced more in my short life than 5 avg. men combined.
To: Christy, my one: I truly love you and planned on being with you forever. I know that I had many flaws and that I wasn’t the best BF at times. [Ed. note: Dude.] When I left you in May it didn’t take me long to realize my mistake. I loved you more than freedom. When we re-united I was 100% dedicated, I know you felt it. I guess it was too little, too late though because something seemed different about you. It drove me crazy, but I knew that you still loved me because you kept telling me to get you the ring. Looking back on it, I guess you wanted security before you “put all of your eggs in one basket” again. That night I was so excited to see you. Finding what I found that night was devastating to me, more than you will ever know. Not just the unfaithfulness, but the way U cared for him and protected him. Not a day goes by that I don’t wish that you weren’t hurt that night, I hope you know that. If I could do it all over again I’d just have laid down and let him beat me up. Maybe you still loved me enough to stop him and make him leave. Maybe I could have just laid on our bed and cried and you’d have held me. Maybe you still loved me enough to end that fling and re-commit to me…I’ll never know. I forgive you, please forgive me, I love you. In hard times know that I am there to lean on.
Ryan: I love you brother, long live the circle. Keep Alpha Male Shit alive.
Zsanett: You were a wonderful wife and stronger than you know, I was always proud of you. Szeretlek.
Michael, Shannah, Melissa: I love you all so much, sorry I wasn’t a better brother. Don’t let the Koppenhaver name die Mike, it’s all you.
Papa: You were the best grandfather a guy could ask for, I love you. Sorry to let you down.
NYBA, R1, Kendall, 9MM, Wadad, Doodoo, Julio, Heather, Trae, JD, Baret, Herman, Pav, Duza, Vitelli, Sua, Matt, D, J.R., Daniel, Fritz: My great friends, oh how I love you all, may my strength be with you.
Amanda: Thank you for your love and support, it meant the world to me. I hope you find your Tristan. I will watch over you.
Oh man, writing all of this has me crying like a lil’ bitch! I still don’t understand how I got into this mess, I don’t know why this had to happen. My life was going so well. I know that I made mistakes in the past but I had corrected that and was living life correctly. It is one thing to catch a case when you set out to commit a crime, but catching a case when you have nothing but good intentions in your heart is just so hard to accept. The severity of the charges makes it that much worse. They wanna charge me with battery and DV? Fine, do it, but don’t railroad me with B.S. fantasy charges like: Rape! Attempted murder! Kidnapping! And burglary! It’s fucking ridiculous and it’s making it impossible for justice. I’m a good person with a huge heart and everyone who knows me knows that, especially Christy. I don’t know what has happened to her but I’m not gonna watch the woman I love go on the stand and tell painful lies about me. I don’t know if her scumbag agent is making her do this for $/publicity, or if the D.A. is just pressuring her/scaring her, or what. Anyway, thank you to all who have supported me over the years, I appreciate you all, sorry if I’ve let you down. I hope you choose to remember me for my times of strength and not for this. Society has killed men. I was never meant to live in this era anyway. Follow your dreams and think for yourselves.
“Verily, I often laugh at the weaklings who think themselves good because they have no claws.” -Nietzsche-
War Machine (aka Jon Koppenhaver) was set to appear at a preliminary hearing this Friday, but the Las Vegas Review-Journal reports that Koppenhaver’s lawyer Brandon Sua asked Las Vegas Justice of the Peace Melanie Tobiasson for time to present prosecutors with “a plea deal to resolve the case…without further litigation and pretrial proceedings.” Tobiasson agreed, and gave Koppenhaver’s lawyers another month to investigate the charges against him. The prosecution is playing along, for now:
(War Machine in his natural habitat. / Photo via Michael Quine, Las Vegas Review-Journal)
War Machine (aka Jon Koppenhaver) was set to appear at a preliminary hearing this Friday, but the Las Vegas Review-Journal reports that Koppenhaver’s lawyer Brandon Sua asked Las Vegas Justice of the Peace Melanie Tobiasson for time to present prosecutors with “a plea deal to resolve the case…without further litigation and pretrial proceedings.” Tobiasson agreed, and gave Koppenhaver’s lawyers another month to investigate the charges against him. The prosecution is playing along, for now:
Chief Deputy District Attorney Jacqueline Bluth said [Christy] Mack and [Corey] Thomas were ready to testify at a preliminary hearing slated for Friday.
But, she added, “the state is always willing to take into consideration any information the defense would like to present”…
Bluth was also quick to say that defense lawyers should not delay the case in an attempt to “ice the victim” or wait for memory of the attack and wounds to subside.
“It is not going to work,” Bluth said. “The victim is always going to be cooperative with us. Both victims in this case want to get this process going”…
Koppenhaver faces life in prison without parole on 32 counts, including attempted murder, sexual assault, battery, coercion, preventing or dissuading a witness or victim from reporting a crime, and first-degree kidnapping resulting in substantial bodily harm.
It’s disappointing, in a way; I would have loved to see War Machine maintain his innocence in court while his lawyer tries to explain what a good guy he is without breaking into laughter. Instead, Koppenhaver will likely admit to some charges so that he can avoid a life of incarceration. We leave you with War Machine’s most recent twitter-poem, published last Friday:
In the blink of an eye,
I lost my life.
How did a nice surprise,
End in strife?
Why was I dealt this,
Horrible hand by fate?
Lured into the depths of hell,
With love as the bait.
This is a nightmare,
From which I can not wake.
There’s too much pain,
It’s more than I can take.
I have no recourse,
My hands are tied.
There is no justice in the world,
The gods have lied.
So for now,
I just sit and wait.
I’ll always regret the day I chose,
Love over hate.
It has been just two months since Christy Mack was heinously assaulted by former boyfriend Jon “War Machine” Koppenhaver, and the adult film star is still facing a long road to recovery. While her ex-boyfriend has been claiming that she “got what she deserved” while awaiting trial ever since, the adult film community has rallied to support Mack, raising nearly $100,000 to pay for the long list of medical expenses that she has ahead of her.
In the time since her assault, Mack has remained all but silent on social media, only occasionally emerging to thank her fans for their ongoing support. Recently however, Mack posted a photo update to to her Instagram page and let us know how her recovery is going, along with the following description:
Sometimes half of your temp teeth decide to fall out to match the rest of your face. Thanks to Dr. Motykie for fixing the damage to my nose, and Dr. Adam Lousignont of Las Vegas for the temp tooth fix… again. Left was Monday right is today. What a difference a few days makes! I’m starting to breathe out of my nose again and today I’m going to get my glasses. One day soon I’ll be going to New York to see Dr. Toscano and get my permanent teeth.
Just an awful, awful situation that Mack has been subjected to, and one made even worse thanks to the heartless reaction she has received from the always reliable Internet.
You see, because Ms. Mack happens (or happened) to work in porn, she is therefore a target of perpetual cynicism, sexism, and misogyny — a truly vile and heartless creature who deserves no sympathy other than that found in the form of a rehashed punchline. And while we all know that the UG forums have devolved from a once respectable place of humorous information-sharing to a TMZ-esque cesspool of hate and gossip (not unlike some place you know, amiright?), their treatment of Mack’s recovery has lowered the bar to a level that not even James Cameron could attempt to rescue.
It has been just two months since Christy Mack was heinously assaulted by former boyfriend Jon “War Machine” Koppenhaver, and the adult film star is still facing a long road to recovery. While her ex-boyfriend has been claiming that she “got what she deserved” while awaiting trial ever since, the adult film community has rallied to support Mack, raising nearly $100,000 to pay for the long list of medical expenses that she has ahead of her.
In the time since her assault, Mack has remained all but silent on social media, only occasionally emerging to thank her fans for their ongoing support. Recently however, Mack posted a photo update to to her Instagram page and let us know how her recovery is going, along with the following description:
Sometimes half of your temp teeth decide to fall out to match the rest of your face. Thanks to Dr. Motykie for fixing the damage to my nose, and Dr. Adam Lousignont of Las Vegas for the temp tooth fix… again. Left was Monday right is today. What a difference a few days makes! I’m starting to breathe out of my nose again and today I’m going to get my glasses. One day soon I’ll be going to New York to see Dr. Toscano and get my permanent teeth.
Just an awful, awful situation that Mack has been subjected to, and one made even worse thanks to the heartless reaction she has received from the always reliable Internet.
You see, because Ms. Mack happens (or happened) to work in porn, she is therefore a target of perpetual cynicism, sexism, and misogyny — a truly vile and heartless creature who deserves no sympathy other than that found in the form of a rehashed punchline. And while we all know that the UG forums have devolved from a once respectable place of humorous information-sharing to a TMZ-esque cesspool of hate and gossip (not unlike some place you know, amiright?), their treatment of Mack’s recovery has lowered the bar to a level that not even James Cameron could attempt to rescue.
Well, Mack’s claimed that she is done with porn, but you totally dissed her there, bro!! Up top!!
It’s more likely that her face is unrecognizable due to the 18 broken bones around her eyes, broken nose in 2 places, and several missing and broken teeth she suffered while being beaten by a trained killing machine who holds close to 100 pounds on her, but yeah, dick jokes!! (*fist pumps*)
I get it, because dongs go in there! No wonder there are so many sought-after toothless pornstars dominating the business! Logic burn FTW!!
OK, this one was kind of funny.
Alright, we’re right back to making rape jokes about a woman who was brutally assaulted! And outsiders say that our sport breeds a culture of “horrific misogyny” and “biological determinism masquerading as enlightenment.” Way to prove them wrong, buddy!
Jesus. This one’s not even a joke. It’s just plain mean-spirited, is what it is. I feel bad for the small army of stray cats this person has drowned in their bathtub in between bouts of self-scarification and crying jags.
Ehem…
Our buddy Vince over at Filmdrunk has a saying that goes something like, “Be nice to the people that give you a boner,” and it could not be more relevant to the cretins on this UG thread. For the life of me, I will never understand how people like these can…let’s say frequent the work of someone like Ms. Mack one minute while slut-shaming them the next. It would be like going to your favorite restaurant and ordering a Prime Rib, then insulting the chef before telling him that you’ll be back tomorrow to see what piece of shit he’ll cook up next.
And look, I’m not going to act like I’m someone who doesn’t appreciate dark humor. I made a joke about tryptophan being the preferred date rape drug at Thanksgiving last year, and have laughed at more 9/11 jokes than I care to admit. But I also have the common decency to realize that maybe an issue like a woman being beaten within an inch of her life warrants a little restraint, especially in the time before she has even recovered from it. Was Ms. Mack involved in a somewhat questionable industry in many of our eyes? Perhaps, but for the love of God people, that in no way equates to the vicious response she has received while trying to recover from the most physically and emotionally damaging period of her young life.
So I praise you, Parts Unknown, for being a goddamn human being. As for the other 99% of UGers who used Mack’s recovery as an opportunity to lob unoriginal, hate-filled jokes her way, congrats. MMARoasted would be so proud.
