Author Topic: TUF Star "War Machine" Pleads Guilty To Assault Charge  (Read 2375 times)

Bluto

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TUF Star "War Machine" Pleads Guilty To Assault Charge
« on: December 14, 2007, 05:43:29 AM »
Jon Koppenhaver, known as “War Machine” from Spike TV's reality series “The Ultimate Fighter,” pleaded guilty Thursday in Superior Court to a felony assault charge.

The professional cage-fighter choked a Las Vegas man unconscious and hit him in the face outside San Diego's Undisputed fitness and training center early Sept. 2.

Koppenhaver also faced a battery charge, but that was dismissed as part of a plea agreement reached during the preliminary hearing Thursday afternoon.

The victim, Darren Zatkow, testified during the hearing that he was visiting San Diego with his then-girlfriend when he was assaulted outside the fitness club after a night of drinks on the town.

Zatkow said he made a joke as he walked out with friends, calling a group of men standing outside the club without shirts “tough guys” while holding his hands up to his shoulders with palms open before he was surrounded by the men. “I cracked a joke and I got hit for it,” Zatkow said.

Zatkow said he was grabbed from behind in a carotid choke and dragged a few feet by one of the men. Zatkow said he did not see who grabbed him.

Zatkow, who practices martial arts but has never competed in tournaments, said he became unconscious 10 seconds after he was choked and came to moments later. Friends of Zatkow's who testified said he was punched in the face while he lay unconscious on the ground.

San Diego Police Detective Fernando Ramirez said a Las Vegas doctor who saw Zatkow days after the assault determined that the facial blow caused four fractures to his left eye socket. The injuries could cause temporary or permanent nerve damage, Ramirez said. The extent of the injury is not yet known because Zatkow is still recovering, he said.

Koppenhaver, 26, of Simi Valley, is skilled in mixed martial arts, according to his profile on the Ultimate Fighting Championship Web site, and also is a resident trainer for San Diego's Undisputed club.

Last week, he won with a technical knockout against Jared Rollins in the third round of Spike TV's Ultimate Fighter Finale held in Nevada.

Judge Frank Brown said the change in plea could result in a misdemeanor punishment. Zatkow told the court he thought a reduced punishment was OK because he believed a felony conviction would destroy Koppenhaver's career.

“I'm not interested in destroying somebody's life,” Zatkow said, noting that fighting should stay in the ring.

Koppenhaver is scheduled to be sentenced Feb. 7 at 1:30 p.m.
Z

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Re: TUF Star "War Machine" Pleads Guilty To Assault Charge
« Reply #1 on: December 14, 2007, 08:08:08 AM »
Not suprised, he was an emotional trainwreck. typical ego filled kid with something to prove.

8)

Bluto

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Re: TUF Star "War Machine" Pleads Guilty To Assault Charge
« Reply #2 on: December 14, 2007, 08:54:14 AM »
yeah im not against people choking others out on the street but it seems a little over the top in this case  :D
Z

BillyGuns

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Re: TUF Star "War Machine" Pleads Guilty To Assault Charge
« Reply #3 on: December 14, 2007, 08:57:38 AM »
  WHAT good is it to learn all that crap if you can't use it?Sounds like the guy was asking for it by running his mouth.
genetic phenom

Logan32

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Re: TUF Star "War Machine" Pleads Guilty To Assault Charge
« Reply #4 on: December 14, 2007, 10:03:07 AM »
  WHAT good is it to learn all that crap if you can't use it?Sounds like the guy was asking for it by running his mouth.

Well yes and no. I get your point but on the other side Koppenhaver is not just some guy who trains he is a professional fighter and as one needs to conduct himself in that manner at all times.   

Spoony Luv

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Re: TUF Star "War Machine" Pleads Guilty To Assault Charge
« Reply #5 on: December 14, 2007, 03:47:55 PM »
Anytime you choke someone, you put yourself at risk of someone getting a good fucking lawyer and a doctor who can claim some sort of brain damage...

The difference of being sued for a few grand or possibly millions...One of the biggest idiots that does shit like this is Joe Rogan...He will go around and choke someone just to show them the feeling...All it takes is a guy to have a fake seizure and then get a doctor or two to side up with him and then your fucked...

Retards who go out choking people...I mean really whats wrong with a good old fashion broken jaw from a nice punch?...

Captain Equipoise

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Re: TUF Star "War Machine" Pleads Guilty To Assault Charge
« Reply #6 on: December 14, 2007, 03:52:36 PM »
  WHAT good is it to learn all that crap if you can't use it?Sounds like the guy was asking for it by running his mouth.

Koppenhaver should have just slapped him in the head and let it be, no need to choke the loser out.

Bluto

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Re: TUF Star "War Machine" Pleads Guilty To Assault Charge
« Reply #7 on: December 14, 2007, 04:23:26 PM »
he wasnt in the ringt so why limit himself to choking someone out when there's so many more tools available on the street?

he could have kicked him in the nuts, fishhooked him or hit him to the back of the head
Z

Bluto

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Re: TUF Star "War Machine" Pleads Guilty To Assault Charge
« Reply #8 on: December 14, 2007, 06:45:36 PM »
"The victim in the case claims that he did not see who broke his face in the confrontation. Furthermore, an independent witness at the scene of the crime testified that Koppenhaver was involved in the incident but was not the one responsible for the damage.

“War Machine” faces a maximum of seven years in the clink if the case goes to trial and he is convicted."
Z

Geo

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Re: TUF Star "War Machine" Pleads Guilty To Assault Charge
« Reply #9 on: December 14, 2007, 07:32:07 PM »
if dana has any balls about protecting the integrity of the UFC he'll let the guy go and never use him in the cage again

MindSpin

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Re: TUF Star "War Machine" Pleads Guilty To Assault Charge
« Reply #10 on: December 14, 2007, 07:49:56 PM »
he wasnt in the ringt so why limit himself to choking someone out when there's so many more tools available on the street?

he could have kicked him in the nuts, fishhooked him or hit him to the back of the head

You forgot head-butt, foot stomp, trachea punch & north/south knees to the head...

w

chaos

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Re: TUF Star "War Machine" Pleads Guilty To Assault Charge
« Reply #11 on: December 14, 2007, 08:06:59 PM »
It wasn't the choke out that caused four fractures to his eye socket was it?
Liar!!!!Filt!!!!

SinCitysmallGUY

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Re: TUF Star "War Machine" Pleads Guilty To Assault Charge
« Reply #12 on: December 14, 2007, 08:07:33 PM »
You forgot head-butt, foot stomp, trachea punch & north/south knees to the head...



You forgot ELBOWS!!!!!!!!!! Eye pokes, and and using Hair to hold the clinch. ( I DID NOT SAY PULL THE HAIR, IM JUST SAYING NO WAY TO bREAK IT) Let the mother fucker eat 10 knees or until he hits the ground.

MindSpin

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Re: TUF Star "War Machine" Pleads Guilty To Assault Charge
« Reply #13 on: December 14, 2007, 08:14:06 PM »
You forgot ELBOWS!!!!!!!!!! Eye pokes, and and using Hair to hold the clinch. ( I DID NOT SAY PULL THE HAIR, IM JUST SAYING NO WAY TO bREAK IT) Let the mother fucker eat 10 knees or until he hits the ground.

I like taking a horse bite during the clinch and then firing off the knees...ha ha!
w

SinCitysmallGUY

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Re: TUF Star "War Machine" Pleads Guilty To Assault Charge
« Reply #14 on: December 14, 2007, 08:16:56 PM »
I like taking a horse bite during the clinch and then firing off the knees...ha ha!


Nothing like snatching up some hair with hands touching and letting one off. No avoiding it

SS

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Re: TUF Star "War Machine" Pleads Guilty To Assault Charge
« Reply #15 on: December 14, 2007, 09:04:16 PM »
Wow sum real life bad asses in this thread ::)

chaos

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Re: TUF Star "War Machine" Pleads Guilty To Assault Charge
« Reply #16 on: December 14, 2007, 09:18:26 PM »
Wow sum real life bad asses in this thread ::)
Yeah you got Sincity......who's never been in a fight ::) and Mindspin....who's great accomplishment is choking out a drunk "friend" over a card game. ::)

I fear for my safety in this thread.
Liar!!!!Filt!!!!

SinCitysmallGUY

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Re: TUF Star "War Machine" Pleads Guilty To Assault Charge
« Reply #17 on: December 15, 2007, 07:40:59 AM »
Yeah you got Sincity......who's never been in a fight ::) and Mindspin....who's great accomplishment is choking out a drunk "friend" over a card game. ::)

I fear for my safety in this thread.

Aren't you the Army bad ass...  ::) ::) I never said I haven't been in a fight. I said I haven't stepped in the ring. Growing up fighting was a part of what happened.

chaos

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Re: TUF Star "War Machine" Pleads Guilty To Assault Charge
« Reply #18 on: December 15, 2007, 01:10:56 PM »
Aren't you the Army bad ass...  ::) ::) I never said I haven't been in a fight. I said I haven't stepped in the ring. Growing up fighting was a part of what happened.
"Army bad ass", I am not :'(

I am though, according to many here, an "internet tough guy" :)
Liar!!!!Filt!!!!

MindSpin

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Re: TUF Star "War Machine" Pleads Guilty To Assault Charge
« Reply #19 on: December 15, 2007, 01:37:01 PM »
Yeah you got Sincity......who's never been in a fight ::) and Mindspin....who's great accomplishment is choking out a drunk "friend" over a card game. ::)

I fear for my safety in this thread.

watch yo mouf son.  I grew up in the tuf streets of "The OC".  You have no idea what I been through ::)
w

chaos

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Re: TUF Star "War Machine" Pleads Guilty To Assault Charge
« Reply #20 on: December 15, 2007, 02:18:12 PM »
watch yo mouf son.  I grew up in the tuf streets of "The OC".  You have no idea what I been through ::)
You are intimidating.
Liar!!!!Filt!!!!