So one of the more infamous things to happen at the UFC in Brazil this past weekend was the release of 23-year-old Will Chope (19-6) not long before he was scheduled to face Diego Brandao (18-9), the reason: the UFC’s zero-tolerance to domestic violence. Chope went to jail for five months serving a misdemeanour assault charge which is not classified as a felony.
Documents emerged of Will Chope’s discharge from the U.S. Air Force due to domestic violence towards his ex-wife when he was just 18-years-old.
How Chope found out he wasn’t fighting was a little surprising as he told MMAFighting that he was “just like a regular fan finding everything out on twitter”. The American seems very remorseful for what he did and understanding of the situation from the UFC’s point of view and reiterates that he and his wife are on really good terms and even planning a family holiday to Disneyland with their daughter.
The fighter made his UFC debut in January in a defeat to Max Holloway which snapped an incredible 14-fight-win-streak over the course of 2012 and 2013. It seems he is not letting this release get in his way as he already has an offer to fight in Pro FC at the end of May if the UFC stick by their guns and don’t allow the young fighter continue to be a part of the family.
