Bellator Releases War Machine Following Allegations that He Assaulted His Girlfriend
MMA fighter War Machine, formerly Jon Koppenhaver, is now also formerly a Bellator fighter following allegations of domestic abuse.
War Machine was reportedly involved in a three-person altercation early Friday morning possibly involving his girlfriend at their Las Vegas home. TMZ Sports first reported the incident, citing Las Vegas police, who said that two of the involved parties suffered severe, but non-life-threatening injuries and were taken to a hospital.
One of the victims was described by police as War Machine’s “significant other.”
Police did not release the names of the victims, and the Las Vegas Police Department’s Office of Public Information is closed for the weekend, but it is common knowledge that War Machine has been dating porn star Christy Mack for quite some time.
Although Mack had not been identified as one of the parties, she later tweeted that she had a personal emergency that would keep her from a planned appearance at this weekend’s Art & Ink show at the South Point Casino in Las Vegas.
Police also told TMZ Sports that they had determined War Machine was the primary suspect in the case, but they had been unable to locate him.
Bellator president Scott Coker late Friday issued a statement lending credence to the allegations, saying that the promotion had terminated War Machine’s contract.
“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 Jon Koppenhaver, War Machine, Bellator is releasing him from him promotional contract with the organization,” said Coker.
MMAWeekly.com will have more on the story as information becomes available.
