Michael Graves tweets threats at MMA reporter, former promotion issues statement

(WARNING: Post contains homophobic slurs, ableist slurs, and public threats of violence)

Titan Fighting Championships has issued a response in regards to a controversy concerning one of its former champions.

Michael Graves, who carried the Titan FC welterweight title into his past three fights, appeared to have sent a slew of alarming social media posts and messages via direct message toward MMA reporter Amy Kaplan. One tweet Kaplan sent out, in particular, caught the eyes of the MMA community.

Kaplan had tagged Titan FC in her response to Graves’ messages, which were captured via screenshot. MMA Fighting reached out to Titan FC COO Lex McMahon, who issued a statement confirming that Graves isn’t (and hasn’t been for some time) under contract with the promotion.

“We are aware of an ongoing situation with Mike Graves,” McMahon stated. “We have no information and Mike has not been a contracted Titan fighter for some time.”

Graves is also known for competing on season The Ultimate Fighter 21. He competed three times for the UFC before his release following a domestic violence arrest in 2016. Following the community response to Kaplan’s tweet, Graves released a slew of concerning posts on Twitter, even stating he was “in Toledo, Ohio with a dagger and a pistol.”

In his follow-up comments, Graves used disturbing and offensive language while targeting the media and UFC President Dana White.