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MMA Fighter 'War Machine' On the Run After Girlfriend's Beating

By Brett Snider, Esq. on August 12, 2014 | Last updated on March 21, 2019

MMA fighter "War Machine" is on the run from the Las Vegas police after allegedly beating girlfriend/porn star Christy Mack to a pulp.

The mixed martial artist, also known as Jonathan Koppenhaver, faces seven arrest warrants after the alleged attack that sent Mack to the hospital Friday. TMZ reports that Mack has 18 broken bones in her face and a ruptured spleen.

What serious charges does War Machine face as he tries to run from the law?

7 Arrest Warrants Issued

Koppenhaver has seven separate warrants for his arrest stemming from the alleged beating that occurred Friday night. According to TMZ, War Machine tweeted Sunday that he had gone to Mack's home "to propose to her -- but found another man at her house when he got there." Mack's family feels Koppenhaver is "delusional" and that he and Mack were not in a serious relationship when he allegedly assaulted her.

Regardless of the circumstances leading up to the incident, police told the Las Vegas Review-Journal that two people sustained "severe but non-life threatening injuries" and Koppenhaver is the primary suspect. The warrants for War Machine's arrest include:

  • Two for felony battery (one with strangulation),
  • Two for felony domestic violence with great bodily injury,
  • One for felony coercion with the threat of force,
  • One for felony assault with a deadly weapon, and
  • One for misdemeanor assault with a deadly weapon.

These offenses are serious charges, and if War Machine is found guilty of even one felony battery with strangulation charge, he could be facing anywhere from two to 15 years in prison.

History of Violence

In addition to being a storied MMA fighter, War Machine has some experience with violence outside the ring. The Review-Journal notes that Koppenhaver was arrested in 2009 on a charge of felony domestic violence with strangulation. Koppenhaver took a plea deal and took a lesser domestic violence battery misdemeanor charge.

With his past history of domestic violence, a judge isn't likely to go easy on him when setting bail. Combined with the fact that War Machine is pretty likely a flight risk -- meaning he's likely to run if he makes bail -- Koppenhaver isn't likely to leave police custody once he's arrested.

As of Sunday night, War Machine's Twitter makes it seem unlikely that he'll turn himself in:

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