Ex-fighter War Machine found guilty on 29 of 34 charges

Over the last few weeks, the trial of Bellator and UFC veteran War Machine (born Jonathan Koppenhaver) has dominated headlines. This trial stemmed from a grisly 2014 incident, during which the former fighter brutalized ex-girlfriend Christy Mac and her then boyfriend Corey Thomas.

After several weeks of court proceedings, during which many horrifying details about War Machine’s attack on Mack and Thomas were revealed, the former fighter has now been found guilty on 29 of the 34 charges he faced  – most notably of sexual assault, battery and kidnapping. The most severe charges he faced – a pair of attempted murder charges – resulted in a hung jury, meaning the jury was unable to agree on a guilty or not guilty verdict. This in turn, implies a mistrial.

War Machine’s sentencing is expected to occur on June 5, 2017, in Las Vegas, Nevada.

War Machine’s terrifying 2014 attack on Mack and Thomas left Mack with a broken nose, a fractured eye socket, a broken rib, a lacerated liver and extensive bruising. She was also left without many of her teeth, which initially made it difficult for her to recount the details of this horrific incident.

“I just couldn’t understand what she was saying but it was because she didn’t have teeth,” Detective Daniel Tomaino said during the trial. 

War Machine also assaulted Thomas with such severity that Mack believed the former fighter was going to kill him.

“Jon was beating Corey, and then at some point he began choking him,” Mack said. “Yes I did,” she continued, when asked if she believed War Machine was going to kill Thomas. 

Mack also claimed that the ex-fighter threatened to send his friends after her if he ended up in jail.

“He said he would send his Navy SEAL friends or Hells Angels after me and my family if he ever went to jail.” 

Are you glad to see War Machine get his just deserts? Sound off, PENN Nation!

This article first appeared on BJPenn.com on 3/21/2017.