What happens to Dana White? Well, UFC’s actions on domestic violence have been mixed

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Within the aftermath of UFC president Dana White slapping his spouse on New 12 months’s Eve, there have been many references to White’s claim in 2014 that, “there’s one factor that you just by no means bounce again from, and that’s placing your palms on a lady. Been that approach within the UFC since we began right here. You don’t bounce again from placing your palms on a lady.”

The factor about that assertion is that the UFC has not adhered to it. Bloody Elbow seems to be on the UFC’s blended response to home violence and violence towards ladies through the years.

Will Chope

Will Chope was rapidly released by the UFC in March 2014 after Bleacher Report revealed he had obtained a bad-conduct discharge from the Air Power associated to prices of home violence. A doc that lined Chope’s enchantment revealed particulars comparable to a number of violent incidents culminating in an incident the place Chope grabbed a knife, slammed his ex-wife’s head into the bottom and used the knife to threaten and assault her (with the deal with).

Cody East

Regardless of a lengthy criminal history that dated again to his highschool days and included a three-year jail sentence for youngster abuse and battery and a no contest plea on a a third-degree cost of aggravated battery with a lethal weapon the UFC signed Cody East in 2016.

In response to questions on his signing, the UFC informed Bloody Elbow, “From the start, Mr. East was very upfront with UFC concerning his previous. In mild of Mr. East’s historical past, UFC had an unbiased investigation carried out into his previous and present conduct. Included within the investigation was a response from East’s former probation officer supporting his alternative to compete in UFC and commenting that he would the truth is be candidate. On account of the investigation, and with the understanding that Mr. East had efficiently accomplished many months of rehabilitation and counseling, UFC felt snug providing Mr. East the chance to compete in UFC.”

East went 0-2 with the UFC. After his launch from the UFC, East was arrested on prices of aggravated battery towards a family member, aggravated assault towards a family member, and false imprisonment. East was arrested again 2022 and charged with battery, youngster abuse and false imprisonment.

Michael Graves

Micheal Graves was arrested by Atlanta police in October 2016 for misdemeanor battery (household violence). He was pulled from his November UFC bout. Six months later the UFC released Graves.

Upon his launch, the UFC issued an announcement which stated, partly:

As a possible violation of the UFC Fighter Conduct Coverage, the UFC group briefly barred Graves from competitors pending the completion of a third-party investigation. Primarily based on the findings of this thorough evaluation and investigation, UFC has suggested Graves that he has been launched from his contract efficient instantly.

UFC requires all athletes to behave in an moral and accountable method, as mandated by the UFC Fighter Conduct Coverage. UFC holds its athletes to the best normal and can proceed to take applicable motion if and when warranted.

Greg Hardy

Previous to signing with the UFC, Greg Hardy was primarily run out of the NFL. In 2014, a choose discovered Hardy, then with the Carolina Panthers, responsible of assaulting a lady and speaking threats. ESPN reported that the choose stated, “the courtroom is solely satisfied Hardy is responsible of assault on a feminine and speaking threats.” He was given a suspended 60-day jail sentence, plus 18 months probation.

Hardy’s conviction was overturned on enchantment when the sufferer, Nicole Holder, didn’t seem for the jury trial. These prices have been later expunged from Hardy’s document. Deadspin detailed the case. Hardy performed 12 video games for the Dallas Cowboys in 2015. The staff didn’t re-sign him after that season and no different NFL staff picked him up.

In discussing Hardy in 2018, White stated, “I assume he had an actual dangerous drug and alcohol drawback. Began to get into MMA. Cleaned himself up. If you happen to discuss to anyone he trains with, male or feminine, they are saying that he’s an excellent man. He’s very humble. Everyone deserves a second likelihood. And the man was by no means charged with something, he was by no means sentenced or something like that. We’re going to present him a shot.”

It’s arduous to keep away from seeing the issues with White’s assertion. The opinions of Hardy’s coaching companions ought to have been taken with a grain of salt, at finest. Hardy’s second likelihood got here with the Cowboys, not with the UFC. Lastly, not solely was Hardy charged, he was sentenced by a choose within the case and served a suspension with the NFL.

When pressed on signing Hardy, White lashed out on the media, “I already lined this. I’m not enjoying this bullshit with you guys. [Hardy] is on the UFC roster. Interval. Finish of story,” White said. “Pay attention, you guys need to be delicate about shit? Anybody might be delicate about something. You can also make a problem about every part.”

Hardy fought 10 instances with the promotion, solely successful two of his final seven outings.

Anthony Johnson I

Johnson was sentenced (through MMAWeekly) to a few years probation, at some point in jail, eight hours of group service and needed to take part in 52 weeks of home violence counseling after he pleaded no contest to a June 2009 cost of home violence.

In line with the San Jose Mercury Information (through MMA Fighting), Johnson had been charged with home violence, battery, demise threats and destroying a telephone to stop the report of against the law. The police report of the incident stated that Johnson pressured himself into the house of an ex-girlfriend after being denied entry to test on his canines. Each Johnson and the girl had accidents to their faces.

Anthony Johnson II

Anthony Johnson has a comparatively prolonged listing of home abuse allegations towards him. In 2014, the UFC suspended Johnson whereas it investigated the next allegations, which have been disclosed in a police report obtained by Bloody Elbow:

*Redacted* said that two years in the past Johnson hit her within the face and knocked out two of her tooth. Since that incident she has had a number of different verbal altercations with Johnson. *redacted* has solely reported one of many incidents to the police.

Most lately, Johnson went to *redacted *’s home and took their canine on 08/24/14. *Redacted* additionally suggested that she retains receiving calls and textual content messages from an unknown male topic threatening her. *Redacted* said that it’s not Johnson however thinks it’s his pals.

I suggested *redacted* to go to the Courthouse and acquire a no contact order towards Johnson.

I offered *redacted* with a home violence brochure.

In line with Bloody Elbow’s report, the girl stated Johnson talked her out of reporting the 2012 incident.

In November 2014 the case went to civil courtroom, the place the girl dismissed her grievance (through Bloody Elbow). With that, the case was absolutely dismissed. The UFC then reinstated Johnson with out sanctions. Nevertheless, the promotion did add on the finish of its assertion, “The UFC group won’t tolerate home violence, sexual assault or another violation of its Code of Conduct. The group is dedicated to totally investigating all allegations and taking the suitable motion when warranted.”

It must be talked about that White tried to color the alleged sufferer within the case in a poor mild, “The fellows got here again and stated it’s worthwhile to droop him, not reduce him. Apparently in case you look into this example this woman has a ton of felonies and she or he’s obtained an actual dangerous historical past of stuff. And the factor is, when she’s saying this occurred, he wasn’t even within the nation.”

Anthony Johnson III

In 2015 Anthony Johnson had a run-in with a lady in a health club, the place he described how he grabbed a lady’s yoga mat from beneath her and threw it “throughout the health club.”

That incident resulted in Johnson agreeing to counseling and the next statement from the UFC:

Following an intensive investigation by a third-party legislation agency, UFC is extraordinarily disillusioned with Anthony Johnson’s current actions, because the group doesn’t tolerate conduct of this nature from any athletes beneath contract with the UFC. Johnson personally apologized to the girl he verbally offended at a Florida health club final week and for the insensitive feedback he made on social media afterwards. The girl accepted Johnson’s apology and indicated a need to place this unlucky matter behind them. In an effort to guarantee these conditions don’t occur sooner or later, Johnson has agreed to take part in counseling and UFC will help him by way of this course of. Johnson has additionally agreed to make a donation to a Florida-based ladies’s charity.

Anthony Johnson IV

In Might 2019, whereas considering a return to the UFC, Johnson was arrested for battery/home battery.

Johnson confronted as much as one 12 months in jail for an arrest in Might. In line with police data, Johnson went to the condominium of a lady he had been in a relationship with to debate a problem between them. Throughout that point, the girl started to pack Johnson’s belongings. He then entered the room and picked her up “in a soccer maintain” and carried her into one other room. The girl said she was afraid because of Johnson’s dimension and his martial arts expertise. She then requested Johnson for her telephone, which he gave to her and she or he known as 911.

Johnson’s account, in response to the police report, was that he was packing his issues when the girl entered the room and continued to argue with him. Johnson stated he requested to be left alone a number of instances. He then stated he picked her up and moved her to a different room. Johnson stated he was not making an attempt to harm her.

There have been no seen accidents on the girl and she or he refused to finish a written assertion for the police.

The reporting officer, believing that Johnson had touched the girl towards her will, arrested him and charged him with battery/home battery.

Johnson struck a plea deal on these prices. On September 21 the courtroom filed his completion of a 12-hour anger administration class,

Jon Jones I

Jon Jones reportedly slapped an on-duty cocktail waitress at TD’s Eubank Showclub, pulled her onto his lap and kissed her neck. The alleged sufferer additionally claimed that Jones picked her up off the bottom with a chokehold and touched her regardless of her telling him to cease.

Jones pleaded no contest to at least one rely of misdemeanor disorderly conduct and obtained 90 days probation.

White’s response on this case was to seemingly blame the sufferer.

“A number of the movies are coming again. I’ve seen some movies. I don’t need to discuss it trigger I don’t need to damage his case or no matter however it’s unlucky, let’s put it that approach.,” White informed TSN. “Once you’re well-known, these kind of issues occur to you.

“From what I’ve seen thus far, when all of it surfaces and involves the highest, it seems to be good for Jon. It seems to be excellent for Jon Jones. It’s fairly unhappy really.”

Jon Jones II

Jon Jones was charged with misdemeanor battery home violence and felony harm to a car following his September 2021 look on the UFC Corridor of Fame ceremony. In trade for the home battery cost being dismissed, Jones pleaded no contest to ‘destroying property of one other’.

In response to the arrest of Jones, White stated, “I obtained 650 guys which can be… there’s shit that goes on right here daily. It’s the combat enterprise, man. Daily, we obtained stuff happening. Stuff that you just don’t learn about, that we take care of every day. You guys simply hear about shit that results in the media.

“We’ll see how this factor performs out legally with him, and we’ll go from there.”

Jones is teasing a return to the UFC in 2023,

Anthony Lapsley

In line with the 2015 HBO Actual Sports activities investigation into home violence amongst MMA fighters, the UFC signed Anthony Lapsley not lengthy after his third conviction for home violence. Lapsley fought for the UFC twice earlier than he was launched with an 0-2 promotional document.

Luis Peña

Luis Peña was arrested thrice in 2021. In Might he was charged with home battery after being accused of punching a lady within the face. In June he was charged with theft by sudden snatching, battery and prison mischief after he was accused of grabbing a lady’s telephone and destroying it. Then in October, Peña was arrested and charged with misdemeanor home violence and battery.

Not lengthy after his third arrest, the UFC released Peña.

B.J. Penn

In Might 2019, the UFC allowed B.J. Penn to combat Clay Guida whereas he had an lively restraining order towards him. Penn was accused by his estranged associate of threats, verbal and bodily abuse, and sexual coercion.

After the combat, UFC govt David Shaw stated, “I believe till there’s some type of conclusion reached on that scenario, and there’s data that involves the forefront, I believe that he’ll proceed to have a plan to combat.”

Thiago Silva I

In February 2014, a SWAT staff surrounded Thiago Silva’s house in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. He was taken into custody at the moment and charged with two counts of aggravated assault with a weapon, aggravated battery with a lethal weapon and one rely of resisting an officer with out violence. On the time, White informed TMZ, “This man won’t ever combat within the UFC once more.”

The police report of the incident included the next:

In the course of the argument, the defendant picked up a silver coloured revolver, pushed her to the couch, pointed the firearm at her and informed her he was going to kill her. When she started to scream, he lined her mouth along with his free hand. He then positioned the firearm in her mouth whereas nonetheless holding her down. Whereas trying to scream, the defendant then left the resident and fled in his car. She said to Deputy Story that she was in worry of her life.

Later within the report:

…the defendant despatched the textual content message to the sufferer in Portuguese stating ‘I’m gonna fuck you up and you’ll die. I’m going to rent somebody to kill you and I’m going to maneuver my girlfriend in.’

In one other incident that was within the police report, Silva went to the health club the place his estranged spouse was working:

She instantly observed that he had been ingesting and intensely intoxicated. He then produced a black glock firearm and pointed it on the sufferer. He said, You’ve got ten seconds to convey Pablo (Popovitch) outdoors and if he doesn’t come out, I’ll go within the health club and begin taking pictures everybody.

Later within the report:

The defendant threatened to kill each sufferer Silva and sufferer Popovitch. Popovitch then ran again into the health club, locked the entrance door, and known as 911.

The fees towards Silva have been later dropped when his estranged spouse stopped cooperating. The rationale she stopped cooperating was easy; she had left the nation.

After the costs have been dropped, White informed UFC.com:

When this factor went down, I stated he’d by no means combat within the UFC once more. Once I watched it unfold on TV and heard of the costs, it didn’t look good for Thiago Silva. However he was acquitted of all prices. How do you not let the man combat once more?

He went by way of the authorized course of and got here out of it untainted. He deserves to have the ability to make a residing once more. He’s again beneath contract.

To say Silva went by way of the authorized course of and got here out “untainted” as a result of his estranged spouse had left the US and stopped cooperating with the police, was a stretch.

Thiago Silva II

In September 2014, the UFC launched Silva once more after his ex-wife posted a collection of movies on YouTube the place she claimed Silva was on medicine and carrying a gun.

Talking to MMA Fighting at the moment, his ex-wife, who was residing and dealing in Abu Dhabi, stated of the sooner case, “They already knew I had a job supply in Abu Dhabi and that was a chance to restart my profession with the person of my life, doing what I like. You haven’t any concept how a lot I like this place. My husband is right here for me once I want. We’re very completely happy. Everyone knew about this job.”

She continued, “I dropped (the restraining order) so I wouldn’t have to come back again to trial and danger dropping my job, so I ended up serving to Thiago.”

On the time of Silva’s September launch, the UFC wrote:

Thiago Silva was launched from his UFC contract on Feb. 7 because of his arrest by police in South Florida. The fees towards Silva have been dropped by the Broward County District Legal professional’s workplace and Silva was re-signed to the UFC earlier this month. Primarily based on new data obtained right this moment within the type of video and audio proof, Silva has been terminated from his UFC contract.

Abel Trujillo

Abel Trujillo was convicted of home abuse inflicting harm in 2007 and home abuse assault in 2009, in response to Iowa courtroom data (Per TSN). Regardless of that, Trujillo fought for the UFC 11 instances between December 2012 and December 2017.

In 2019, whereas not a UFC fighter, Trujillo was sentenced to 2 years probation after pleading responsible to sending inappropriate messages to a minor. Along with his responsible plea, Trujillo had three felony prices dismissed. The preliminary felony prices included tried sexual exploitation of a kid.