Prior to news that ex-Bellator welterweight Jon 'War Machine' Koppenhaver was apprehended Friday in Simi Valley, California, UFC president Dana White gave his take on the events that led to the fighter's arrest. Koppenhaver was wanted by the Las Vegas Police Department on seven arrest warrants following an alleged assault that took place Aug. 8 and left his former girlfriend, Christy Mack, and a male acquaintance hospitalized.
"It's horrible," White told media members Friday in Bangor, Maine. "Horrible ... and every time I've got to see, 'Ex-UFC fighter' when the stories are written. He fought twice! Six years ago! He was a current Bellator, Viacom fighter. I had my staff calling these reporters. 'We don't know what Bellator is' and I said, 'Ever heard of Viacom? That's who he fights for. He fights for Viacom. Not the UFC.'
White went on to explain how 'unfair' it was for the UFC's brand to be associated with the savage beating of a woman.
"They want clicks," said White. "They want clicks. They want readers. Come on. How unfair is it? A guy fought two times, six years ago and he's an ex-UFC fighter. He's been a Bellator fighter since they started Bellator or however long it's been years. He's been fighting for them. I get it, not everybody's heard of them, but it's frickin' Viacom."
White was also asked for comment on former UFC featherweight prospect Josh Grispi, who was arrested twice in four days after allegedly assaulting his wife. On Aug. 5, Grispi pleaded innocent to "two counts of assault and battery, assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, two counts of violating a restraining order, animal cruelty, malicious damage to a motor vehicle, drug possession to cultivate marijuana and improper storage of a large capacity firearm and rifle or shotgun near a child" in Massachusetts' District Court.
"Let me tell you what. We all know War Machine. When you hear something like that, it's horrifying to hear about it, but Grispi? I never saw that coming. That kid didn't seem to have that type of demeanor. You never know.
"It's sad and it's horrifying. It's bad news. Terrible."
Koppenhaver will appear in Ventura County Superior Court at 1:30 p.m. on Aug. 19.
5 MUST-READ STORIES
War on drugs. Luke Thomas explains how the UFC could change the sport of MMA If they decided to take the highest road possible to combat the use of PED's.
'Our bad.' Dana White takes responsibility for the brawl between Jon Jones and Daniel Cormier. 'It shouldn't happen, and it shouldn't have happened. But it did.'
Gray area. Chuck Mindenhall discusses the uncomfortable reality of watching a fighter being unceremoniously pushed out of MMA.
Employed. Mark hunt explains his ambiguous tweets from last week that appear to have centered around a contract dispute with the UFC. 'I nearly made the biggest mistake of my life.'
Tragic. A Nevada NBC affiliate is reporting claims by the neighbor who took in Christy Mack following her assault alleging that the LVPD hung up on her initial calls and that their delayed response allowed Jon Koppenhaver to escape.
MEDIA STEW
Dana White reacts to UFC Fight Night: Maine.
Bader vs. OSP post-fight presser.
Nice KO from Cage Warriors 70.
Bas calls his fight against Ken Shamrock.
All the MMA ice bucket challenges.
The battle between Anderson Silva and Nick Diaz has already begun.
Long watches.
UFC Fight Night Bader vs OSP 6th Round
...
The Jay and Dan Podcast: Episode 35 with Ronda Rousey
TWEETS
Check out our Pros React piece for instant reaction from UFC Fight Night 47.
Victory lap.
Wasn't pretty but got the job done. Had to work around some things in camp w/ some injuries & he was a tough dude. Thx to my team at Power.
— Ryan Bader (@ryanbader) August 17, 2014
All the hard work dedication to get through a training camp is all worth it for the ecstasy of victory... http://t.co/jlC6KlvxB5
— Ross Pearson (@RossTheRealDeal) August 18, 2014
Had this dream more times than I can remember. http://t.co/TEHWp2K6Zr
— Alan Jouban (@AlanJouban) August 17, 2014
Winning is a great feeling! http://t.co/GfmrQ1fAem
— Shawn Jordan (@savageshawn) August 17, 2014
É Brasil!!!! É Santa Catarina, é Floripa!!!! Energia boa com os brasileiros aqui em bangor... http://t.co/RrsHShs9yV
— Thiago Tavares UFC (@TavaresMMA) August 17, 2014
Galera obrigado a todos dever cumprido agora e voltar para casa e treinar mais e mais obrigado a todos... http://t.co/FqMjqZCzDS
— JussierFormigaUFC (@JussierFormiga) August 17, 2014
Thanks for all of the support! Lauren Murphy is one tough cookie n it was awesome to battle her. Tweaking my ground work n right back at it
— Sara McMann (@Sara_McMann) August 17, 2014
Just on the plane heading home. I just need to heal this up a bit lively, and get back to it! Thank you Bangor, Maine pic.twitter.com/bwOif8kKWV
— Thomas E Watson (@TomKongWatson) August 17, 2014
Huge thank you to @seanshelby @ufc @danawhite for the opportunity to fight. Dream come true and just can't thank u enough. Amazing night.
— Frankie Saenz (@FrankieSaenz) August 17, 2014
Better luck next time.
Thank you all for the love and support! Much appreciated! Just a bump in the road, but I promise I'll be back even better!! On to the next!!
— Brad Tavares (@BradTavares) August 17, 2014
Just wanted to thank everyone who has stood behind me. All my team mates @FightReadyMMA & @AllianceMMA @TheDomin8r @EricDelFierro @WFFMMA
— Seth Baczynski (@Sethbmma) August 17, 2014
Tonight wasn't my night but I'll be back! Thank you @ufc and @TavaresMMA for the fight! He was the better man tonight! Much respect!
— Robbie Peralta (@PeraltaMMA) August 17, 2014
Thanks for all the help this week @TheFightDocs! You guys are the best
— Zachary Makovsky (@ZachFunSize) August 17, 2014
Morning after breakfast! Hahaha heavyweight here I come ;) Can't wait to get out of Bangor. #downbutnotout pic.twitter.com/HAFybnGrjE
— Lauren Murphy (@LaurenMurphyMMA) August 17, 2014
Champs.
Haters.
Boring is all I have to say!
— Anthony Johnson (@Anthony_Rumble) August 17, 2014
@ZachFunSize You should have put nail polish on... Gotta look pretty when your getting fucked @JussierFormiga pic.twitter.com/uO7VBdyMji
— Ian McCall (@Unclecreepymma) August 17, 2014
Chuck Liddell and Chris Brown together at last. #itsallabouthekids
It was a great weekend flag football for charity #itsallabouthekids @wale @jermainejunior... http://t.co/dFi7p6iR0E
— Chuck Liddell (@ChuckLiddell) August 18, 2014
Nice.
it was nice to meet u "@RustamTheTiger: Met my bro @TeamKhabib lol pic.twitter.com/7ka6hpZFK3"
— khabib nurmagomedov (@TeamKhabib) August 17, 2014
Backstage at the wrasslin'.
Oh my god so much fun!! #4horsewomen out in force tonight with @natbynature at #summerslam http://t.co/ALtiXGdaLE
— Ronda Rousey (@RondaRousey) August 18, 2014
Typical of most TUF seasons.
Made it to L.A just in time for a shopping trip solo =) later meet up with the ladies mani/pedi & dinner thanks to @foxsports1
— Tecia Torres (@TeciaTorres) August 17, 2014
Just got my Felangies done. Never had tips before but that's what Foxsports wanted. I'm sure there... http://t.co/RPudji03nx
— Felice Herrig (@feliceherrig) August 18, 2014
Duff'd it.
FIGHT ANNOUNCEMENTS
Announced this weekend (Aug. 15-17 2014)
NA
FANPOST OF THE DAY
Today's Fanpost of the Day comes via DirtyBird2.
Marcin Tybura chokes out Grabowski wins M-1 HW title
One of the biggest fights in the HW division in general and on the prospect scene happened today. As Marcin Tybura took on Damain Grabowski in the first round at M-1 Challenge 50: Battle On Neva. Marcin came in with a lot of hype a ground speciailist with a very well rounded game. Up until this bout Grabowski's only defeat came in Bellator at the hands of now retired Cole Konrad. If Grabowski won he said he would vacate his title and got to the ufc. Guess that's not happening. Now onto the breakdown. The fight starts out the same as any both fighters come to the center of the ring circling around throwins faints. Tybura comes in, gets Grabowski against the ropes, uses come dirty boxing. Grabowski throws a knee. Tybura catches it, takes him down immediately to side control. throws that arm over the head and just moves and chokes him out with a north south. It was a thing of Beauty. Marcin Tybura m-1 grand prix, and HW champion perfect 12-0.
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Check out the rest of the post here.
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