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CP After Dark: One-Time UFC Vet Homer Moore Arrested For Role in 1999 Drug-Related Murder

(Moore’s mugshot via the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office)

So this is pretty f*cked up.

If you happen to be a hardcore MMA fan with a near-perfect memory dating back roughly a dozen years, you might remember Homer “Rock” Moore from his lone appearance at UFC 34: High Voltage, which resulted in a second round loss via armbar to Evan Tanner. No? Well, perhaps you might remember Moore from his notable scraps with such UFC veterans as Chael Sonnen, Dan Severn, Jeremy Horn, and Joe Riggs among others. Ringing any bells?

If you still are coming up short in regards to Mr. Moore, fret not, for you’ll surely remember his name after you read this. Earlier today, Moore was arrested in connection with a particularly brutal murder of a 19-year-old man in Tempe, Arizona that took place back in 1999. According to AZ Central, Moore was allegedly one of several men who helped lure Karam Hussein Jabbar into a townhouse as part of a drug deal, only to suffocate Jabbar and stuff him into the trunk of a car that they then abandoned in a grocery store parking lot. Some fifteen years later, police were finally able to gather enough evidence to arrest him:

The case began in August 1999 when Jabbar, a 19-year-old retail salesman from Scottsdale, was found in the trunk of a vehicle with his hands and feet bound and a bag over his head in the parking lot of a grocery store in Mesa.

According to police, Jabbar was set up by Moore.

Moore and Jabbar met through a mutual acquaintance, and Jabbar was going to take marijuana to Moore and a group of others. But Moore and the others planned to rob Jabbar, he said. The group took Jabbar to a townhouse in Tempe, where the murder took place.

Police found the body after complaints of a smell coming from the abandoned vehicle were reported.

(Moore’s mugshot via the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office)

So this is pretty f*cked up.

The case began in August 1999 when Jabbar, a 19-year-old retail salesman from Scottsdale, was found in the trunk of a vehicle with his hands and feet bound and a bag over his head in the parking lot of a grocery store in Mesa.

According to police, Jabbar was set up by Moore.

Moore and Jabbar met through a mutual acquaintance, and Jabbar was going to take marijuana to Moore and a group of others. But Moore and the others planned to rob Jabbar, he said. The group took Jabbar to a townhouse in Tempe, where the murder took place.

Police found the body after complaints of a smell coming from the abandoned vehicle were reported.

The Medical Examiner’s Office determined Jabbar’s cause of death was asphyxiation, police said.

Moore was said to be known for drugs throughout the club scene.

According to the article, Moore was questioned by detectives in 1999 when Jabbar’s body was originally discovered, but was later cleared when no physical evidence against him was found.

Moore last competed in March of 2013, where he scored a first round KO over Vincent Lawler at All Powers Combat 11.

There’s not much else to say, really, other than that the family of Jabbar can finally have a little closure in what remains a horrific and ongoing crime. We will have more on this story as it develops.

Update: In the uncropped version of the booking photo, you can see that Moore was wearing a UFC shirt at the time of his arrest.

–J. Jones

Jungle Fight Lightweight Guilherme Rodrigues Murdered in Brazil, Just One Day After Nova Uniao Fighter Meets the Same Fate

(Photo via Alan Oliveira/Sherdog.)

Two MMA fighters. Two murders. Two days.

That’s the startling reality facing the Brazilian city of Natal, which is set to host Fight Night 38 on March 23rd. On Tuesday, it was reported that Luiz de Franca, a 3-0 welterweight training out of Kimura Nova Uniao, was shot to death inside a gym on Monday morning. The main suspect? A police lieutenant, of all people, who used to train at the Alta Performance gym until he was thrown for being “too violent” some 15 days before Franca’s murder. Said Franca’s teammate and UFC middleweight Rafael Natal:

It was a cowardly act. Really sad to see a guy full of life, that always helped everybody, die like that. I want justice.

Wanderlei Silva, who had trained with Franca in early 2012, also shared his condolences, stating via his Facebook, “I’m really sad. Luiz de Franca, who trained with us in Las Vegas for almost a year, was brutally murdered this Monday morning in Natal. He was only 25 and never got himself in trouble. He was a good kid.”

Police colonel Lenildo Sena told reporters that the crime was caught on tape, but they have yet to determine if it was the cop, who had a history of depression (also according to Sena), who killed the 25-year-old Franca.

As if the horrific and inexplicable murder of one human being wasn’t enough, word broke earlier today that Jungle Fight lightweight Guilherme Matos Rodrigues had died on the operating table shortly after being shot in Natal last night as well. Details on his case are after the jump.

(Photo via Alan Oliveira/Sherdog.)

Two MMA fighters. Two murders. Two days.

It was a cowardly act. Really sad to see a guy full of life, that always helped everybody, die like that. I want justice.

Although there has been no connection made between the two murders, Rodrigues’ training partner and Bellator featherweight Patricio Freire suggested something sinister to MMAFighting, stating that

Guilherme was in the best time of his life now. He just majored in Physical Education and kept fighting. Everything he did was work and train.I have no idea who would do a brutality like that to him. He was a handsome guy, everybody knew who he was, so maybe someone was jealous of him.

There’s not much I can say, really, other than that it has truly been an unbelievable couple of days for the city of Natal and the MMA community in general. Our hearts go out to the families of Franca and Rodrigues, and we will keep you updated on their cases as information is made available.

–J. Jones

Good News: Joe Son Might Get the Death Penalty for Killing His Cellmate Two Years Ago

(Joseph Hyungmin Son: Prison karaoke champ, 2011-2013. / Photo via Tapology)

A month after being sentenced to life in prison for the kidnapping, rape, and torture of a woman on Christmas Eve 1990, pre-Zuffa UFC punchline Joe Son once again made fucked-up headlines in October 2011 when he allegedly killed his cellmate, a wild-looking pedophile named Michael Thomas Graham.

Things have been pretty quiet on the Joe Son front since then. But now, TMZ is passing along word that Son is finally being charged with the murder of Graham, two years after the fact:

The guy who played shoe-throwing bad guy Random Task in “Austin Powers” has been charged with murder in the death of his prison cellmate, TMZ has learned … and prosecutors could pursue the death penalty.

The guy in the cross hairs is Joe Son, who was serving a life sentence in California’s Wasco State Prison for torturing a woman when he allegedly killed his 50-year-old cellmate in 2011.

Law enforcement sources tell TMZ that Son — a former MMA fighter — killed Graham with a combination of kicks and punches. We’re told the brutality of the murder will be a factor when prosecutors decide if they should pursue the death penalty.

(Joseph Hyungmin Son: Prison karaoke champ, 2011-2013. / Photo via Tapology)

Things have been pretty quiet on the Joe Son front since then. But now, TMZ is passing along word that Son is finally being charged with the murder of Graham, two years after the fact:

The guy in the cross hairs is Joe Son, who was serving a life sentence in California’s Wasco State Prison for torturing a woman when he allegedly killed his 50-year-old cellmate in 2011.

We’ll keep you updated when we learn more about Son’s ongoing murder case. Though if it were up to us, this turd would have been fried a long time ago.

Ugh.

Anderson Silva Promises to Beat Chael Sonnen So Badly It Will ‘Change the Image of the Sport’

(“Well, this little red-and-white number is my killing shirt, and if you see it, that usually means this is your last day on earth.”)

The UFC held a conference call today hyping UFC 148: Silva vs. Sonnen 2 (you can listen to the full audio here), and somebody replaced the normally composed and respectful Anderson Silva with a murderous, rage-fueled psychopath. Fed up with all of Chael Sonnen‘s bullshit over the last couple years, Silva unleashed a torrent of chilling threats during the call that went beyond the usual boundaries of trash-talk, and were totally out-of-character for the smooth Burger King pitchman. Here are the highlights:

“First of all, Chael is a criminal. He’s been convicted of crimes. He doesn’t deserve to be inside the Octagon. And when the time is right, I’m going to break his face and break every one of his teeth in his mouth.”

“The playtime is over. I’m gonna beat Chael like he’s never been beat before. There’s no more talking. I know he’s on the line listening, and the game’s over. I’m going to beat his ass out of the UFC. He’s never gonna want to fight again after I’m done with him.”

“It doesn’t matter if I’m on the bottom, the side, the top, it doesn’t matter. Chael Sonnen’s gonna get his ass kicked like he’s never gotten his ass kicked before. What I’m gonna do inside the Octagon is something that’s gonna change the image of the sport. I’m gonna beat his ass like he’s never been beaten before. I’m gonna make sure that every one of his teeth are broken, his arms are broke, his legs are broke. He’s not going to be able to walk out of the Octagon by himself. I can guarantee that. And I know that he’s listening. The game’s over. No more shit-talking. It’s on now.”

(“Well, this little red-and-white number is my killing shirt, and if you see it, that usually means this is your last day on earth.”)

“It doesn’t matter if I’m on the bottom, the side, the top, it doesn’t matter. Chael Sonnen‘s gonna get his ass kicked like he’s never gotten his ass kicked before. What I’m gonna do inside the Octagon is something that’s gonna change the image of the sport. I’m gonna beat his ass like he’s never been beaten before. I’m gonna make sure that every one of his teeth are broken, his arms are broke, his legs are broke. He’s not going to be able to walk out of the Octagon by himself. I can guarantee that. And I know that he’s listening. The game’s over. No more shit-talking. It’s on now.”

“I’m just gonna make him pay, and make him eat everything he said, not only about myself, but about our country, about everything. I’m gonna make him pay and make sure that he never disrespects any fighter — not only Brazilian [fighters], any fighter. I’m going to beat him maybe the way his parents should have beaten him to teach him some manners, because he’s disrespectful, he’s a criminal, and I’m gonna beat him up like he’s never been beat before.”

“The first time we fought, he stepped out [as] the loser, and he’s gonna step out losing again this time, the only difference is that this time he’s gonna have to go see a plastic surgeon after the fight.”

Sonnen didn’t get nearly as many opportunities to speak during the call, although he did call Silva an “amateur,” and fell back onto his old “medium rare” catchphrase.

I don’t know, guys…I think Sonnen might be seriously fucked here. Anderson Silva generally fights with an eerie calmness that highlights what a brilliantly violent destroyer of men he is. (You might call it Fedor-esque.) But an Anderson who is clearly pissed off and committed to hurting his opponent so badly that it might lead to a worldwide ban on MMA? What would that even look like? Can you really manage to break all of your opponent’s teeth and all four of his limbs before the fight is stopped? Kind of a far-fetched threat — but hey, if anybody can pull that off, it’s Silva.

UPDATED Joe Son Being Investigated for Cellmate’s Homicide in Wasco Prison Monday

By Mike Russell

(It looks like we may be able to add “murderer” to Joe Son’s resume below “kidnapper” and above “rapist.”)

A poster on mixedmartialarts.com’s Underground Forum revealed today that former UFC fighter and incarcerated kidnapper and rapist Joseph Hyungmin Son may have been involved in the murder of his cellmate in the California prison he currently is housed in and it appears that the story has some truth to it.

Here’s what the poster, SoCal PriznGard posted today:

“I am the first to break this news! Ex UFC fighter, Joe Son has murdered his cellmate. While serving a life sentence for gang rape, Joe Son has been attacked several times by other inmates who do not tolerate rapists in prison. It has not yet been determined why he killed his cellmate or how.

No troll. Fact: celly found dead. Joe and dead guy only ones in cell together. Guard doing count, sees celly is unresponsive, medical arrives. CPR performed. Celly has trauma to chest area. Pronounced dead. Innocent until proven guilty but looks like he did it. These are the only facts that I have right now. Investigation still in progress since it just happened on Monday around 5:00 pm.”

CagePotato.com spoke with a representative from the prison’s litigation department, after being passed on by Wasco’s public information officer this morning, and when asked whether or not Son was involved in said incident, we were told that a press release on the situation is forthcoming, likely later today — meaning that there is at least some truth to the rumor.

By Mike Russell

(It looks like we may be able to add “murderer” to Joe Son’s resume below “kidnapper” and above “rapist.”)

Here’s what the poster, SoCal PriznGard posted today:

Here’s what we were told a few minutes ago:

“Right now I am working on a press release and I can’t get that information out until our headquarters puts a rubber stamp on it, so that’s where I’m at right now with it. That’s pretty much all I can tell you right now. They control when it’s released, but it may be released this afternoon, possibly.”

If there was no incident and Son was not involved, we would have been informed as much.

We’ll have more on the incident after we receive the press release this afternoon.

*UPDATE* THE FOLLOWING IS A PRESS RELEASE SENT OUT BY THE WASCO LITIGATION DEPARTMENT:

WASCO – Officials from Wasco State Prison-Reception Center (WSP-RC) and the Kern County District Attorney’s Office are investigating the death of an inmate as a homicide. The inmate, whose name is being withheld pending notification of his next of kin, was found dead in his cell about 5:50 p.m. October 10, 2011.

The 50-year-old inmate was received at WSP-RC from San Luis Obispo County on June 23, 2011, as a parole violator with a new term for failure to register as a sex offender. He received a 2-year sentence.

Joseph Son, 40, has been identified as a suspect in the case. Son was received at WSP-RC from Orange County on September 16, 2011, on a life sentence with the possibility of parole for torture.

The Office of the Inspector General’s Bureau of Independent Review was notified.

WSP-RC’s primary mission is to provide short-term housing while new inmates are processed to classify and evaluate new inmates, physically and mentally, and to determine their security level, program requirements and appropriate institutional placement. WSP-RC, which was opened in February 1991, houses approximately 5,800 inmates and employs approximately 1,700 people.

Promising Ohio MMA Fighter Phil Masterson Found Murdered

An up-and-coming Ohio MMA prospect’s body was found in the woods near a party where he got into a fight earlier in the evening Saturday night and the man he brawled with has been charged in connection with his murder.

According to a report from the Sandusky Register, Westlake resident and 2-0 amateur fighter Phil Masterson, 25 whose brother Matt is a 9-3 pro, attended a party on South Bass Island near a cabin he was renting for the holiday long weekend on September 3 where he got into an altercation with a 27-year-old Bowling Green man by the name of Zachary Brody. After some pushing and shoving that escalated into a brief fight, the pair were separated and went their separate ways. Police allege that at some point later in the night Brody returned to the scene and beat Masterson to death and hid his body in the woods beneath a tarp, where it was later found by family members who began a search Sunday for their missing relative.

Brody is charged with murder, voluntary manslaughter and felonious assault.

Besides the obvious, one of the unfortunate elements of the story that several news outlets have already taken and run with is that both the victim and his alleged murderer have trained in MMA, which isn’t helped by the fact that the local sheriff who is leading the investigation has made a point of telling reporters that “both had at least some exposure or training in mixed martial arts, a full-contact sport that combines various forms of fighting, including wrestling, grappling and striking.” The obvious correlation that those who aren’t proponents of the sport will make is that MMA fighters are likely all idiots who go around getting in street fights, using their skill and training to hurt or kill people, which couldn’t be further from the truth in the majority of cases. Most fighters I know have never been in a fight outside of the cage and in many, if not all of their trainers and coaches explicitly forbid their students from fighting outside of competition and sparring.

Hopefully news of this incident doesn’t reach Bob Reilly’s desk or else we can expect to hear him talking about Brody and Masterson in his next anti-MMA rant in New York State Assembly during next session’s push to legalize the sport in the Empire State.

You can bet that if he does, he’ll conveniently forget to mention that Brody trained in BJJ and grappling, not MMA and that he had a history of violence dating back to a 2004 temporary protection order a fraternity member filed against him.