From domestic violence to bank robbery: see the biggest crimes ever committed in MMA

The case of Christy Mack (left) and War Machine (right) caught the attention of public opinion. Photo: Reproduction/Facebook

It's always shocking and such facts almost always take over the news, but public figures are occasionally involved in scandals and commit crimes, whether they are in the arts, politics or media. This group also has a large number of sports stars, with notable events both in Brazil and the rest of the planet involving athletes from the most diverse sports. MMA is also not immune and has cases involving some big names in the sport and others that, even if they involve less expressive fighters, draw attention for their brutality.

This was the case with former UFC and Bellator welterweight War Machine. Since last week, the American has been on the run after breaking into the home of his ex-girlfriend, the famous porn actress Christy Mack, and attacking her along with a friend who was there. The case had great repercussion in the press, whether specialized or not, and the shocking images of Christy Mack after being beaten are among the most talked about on social media.

O SUPER FIGHTS lists other major scandals and crimes involving MMA athletes:

JOSH GRISPI: from almost challenging Aldo to being arrested for attempted murder

Grispi (photo) faces seven charges for the serious episode of domestic violence. Photo: Disclosure/UFC

Another recent case involving an athlete who was considered one of the most promising in the featherweight category, with 14 victories in his first 15 fights. Rising star in the now-defunct WEC, Josh Grispi arrived in the UFC in 2011 as the champion's number one challenger José Aldo, but ended up not making the fight after an injury to the Brazilian. The North American then faced Dustin poirier at UFC 125 and ended up defeated. The setback seems to have affected Grispi, who lost the next three and was sent away from Ultimate in 2013, when he abandoned his career.

Last week, Josh Grispi was arrested twice for attacking his wife, to whom he has been married for three years and has two children, in an incident defined as "the worst domestic abuse ever seen in the city of Middleborough, Massachusetts" by a police officer who followed the events. Grispi not only beat his wife two years ago, he trained his pitbull dog to bite her on command. After the former fighter's arrest, weapons, ammunition, drugs and several text messages were found with serious threats to the woman, who is in hospital with very serious injuries. For the crime, Josh faces no less than seven charges.

LEE MURRAY: Former challenger of Anderson Silva becomes “King of Crime” in England

Lee Murray (photo) was responsible for a million-dollar bank robbery. Photo: Disclosure

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One of the scariest cases of crimes involving MMA athletes is that of Briton Lee Murray. “Lightning”, as he is known, even fought in the UFC and had a title fight against Anderson Silva at the English event Cage Rage, in his last appearance as a professional, in 2004. However, from then on, Murray's life changed drastically and he went from being a fighter of relative importance to becoming one of the biggest criminals in the history of the United Kingdom – responsible for a robbery that, in terms of amounts raised, was dozens of times higher than the famous “Assalto ao Trem Pagador”.

In 2006, Lee led a bank robbery that netted his gang an incredible US$97 million (or R$221,1 million, at current exchange rates). Arrested in the same year in Morocco, Murray was found guilty in 2010 and is serving his sentence in the African country. The cinematic robbery was just the highest (or lowest) point in “Lightning’s” career of crimes, which also included a series of street fights and even an elaborate escape from the prison in which he is imprisoned. It was reported that the former fighter's life would be turned into a film, by the production company “Time Inc.”, but to this day the idea has not come to fruition.

HERMES FRANCE: The only Brazilian to fight for the lightweight belt served 42 months in prison

H. França (photo) was arrested in 2011. Photo: Disclosure/UFC

Champion of the extinct WEC, with victories over names like Caol Uno, Jamie Varner and Nate diaz, Hermes França from Ceará was the only Brazilian to date to compete for the lightweight category belt (up to 70 kg) in the UFC. However, his career in MMA was interrupted in 2011, when at the age of 36 he was arrested on charges of attempted sexual abuse against a minor at his jiu-jitsu gym in the city of Clackamas, in the state of Oregon.

A year after his arrest, França made a plea deal in which he admitted he was guilty in the case. In April this year, Hermes was deported to Brazil by order of the North American justice system after serving a 42-month sentence in a state prison. On August 28th, two days after turning 40, the Ceará native will make his return to professional MMA against Márcio Rodrigues Braga in the main fight of the “Extrema Fighter: Nordeste” event, which takes place in Fortaleza (CE).

During his time in the UFC, Hermes França has another fact that is, to say the least, curious. In 2007, after losing to Sean Sherk in a fight for the lightweight title, both fighters were caught in a doping test for using illegal substances. As a result, even though he emerged victorious, Sherk had his title taken away by the organization.

THIAGO SILVA: The undefeated promise that ended in a police chase shown live on TV

T. Silva during trial in Florida. Photo: CBS Miami/Reproduction

Another Brazilian who had problems with the law in the United States was the light heavyweight Thiago Silva, who was close to the category belt when he had an undefeated duel against Lyoto Machida at UFC 94, in 2009. After the first loss of his career to Lyoto, who would later become division champion, Thiago seems to have lost his way. Unable to achieve a series of positive results, the “King of Marra” began to stand out more for the bizarre episodes experienced outside the octagon – such as when his victory against Brandon Vera was reversed in a fight with no result after falsifying his urine sample for the anti-doping test.

But his worst moment would come in February 2014. In the early hours of the 7th, Thiago invaded fellow Brazilian Pablo Popovitch's gym in Boca Ratton (USA) and threatened those present with a firearm, including his ex-wife Thaysa Silva – which would be the main target of the attack. Called by the victims, the local police summoned a SWAT team (special operations battalion) and the fighter's pursuit through the streets of the Florida city was broadcast live on television. Thiago remained in prison for a month before being released on bail in the amount of US$25 (around R$56). Now, he is free to respond to the lawsuit and should return to professional MMA on August 29th, at the “Fight Time 20” event.

RICCO RODRIGUEZ: Former heavyweight champion has an extensive criminal record

R. Rodriguez (photo) was UFC champion in 2002. Photo: Disclosure/UFC

Ricco Rodriguez is certainly not among the most recognized names among the new generation of MMA, but his name is engraved in history as the eighth champion in the history of the UFC heavyweight category – with victory over none other than the member of Hall of Fame Randy Couture. But in addition to this record, Ricco has several others on his criminal record, almost as extensive as his record of 75 professional fights.

The first fighter in UFC history to be caught for using cocaine, Rodriguez had his chemical dependency publicized during his participation in the first season of the reality show Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew (“Rehabilitation for celebrities, with Dr. Drew”, in free translation), when he starred in one of the most bizarre moments of the attraction when he jumped from a boat even after being warned several times not to do so. He is also accused of Tito Ortiz of stealing US$20 to spend on games. In his most regrettable episode, Rodriguez was driving drunk and crashed his car into a truck. After the accident, the former fighter dragged the unconscious body of his ex-girlfriend, who he thought was dead, to the driver's seat with the intention of incriminating her for what had happened.

JOSH ROSENTHAL: Referee was arrested for trafficking and planting almost 1.500 marijuana plants

Josh Rosenthal (photo) was arrested for drug trafficking. Photo: Josh Hedges/UFC

Anyone who thinks that illicit activities are restricted to athletes in the sporting world, in this case MMA, is mistaken. Not even the judges, ironically responsible for maintaining order and monitoring compliance with the laws within the octagon, are free from dealing with justice. The most alarming case ever recorded is that of Josh Rosenthal, recognized in the UFC and with dozens of fights in the main organization on the planet under his belt. The referee was arrested for drug trafficking in California due to his partnership in a warehouse that had a plantation of 1.356 marijuana plants.

If Josh first declared himself innocent in North American justice, then the judge admitted his guilt in the case and ended up being sentenced to 37 months in prison, a fine of US$100 (approximately R$227) and two years of probation. for the crime. The sentence was much milder than initial estimates, which even pointed to life imprisonment and payment of a fine worth US$6 million (around R$13 million).

JOE SON: Former UFC and PRIDE fighter serves life in prison in the USA

The US press refers to J. Son as an “actor”, despite him having only appeared in one film. Photo: Reproduction/CBS

With a ridiculous record of four defeats in four fights, although one of them in the UFC 4 tournament and two others in PRIDE, South Korean Joe Son even participated in one of the films in the “Austin Powers” ​​series, a satire of films by espionage by comedian Mike Myers, but it really caught attention in the police news.

Already serving a life sentence in the United States for rape, torture, kidnapping and other charges, Son was linked to a violent sexual crime committed in 1990 through DNA testing. As if that weren't enough, two years later, in October 2011, the South Korean was accused of killing his cellmate.

MAIQUEL FALCÃO: Brazilian with experience in UFC and Bellator went from aggressor to victim

M. Falcão (photo) was involved in several scandals. Photo: Josh Hedges/UFC

In 2010, Maiquel Falcao He had a respectable record of 27 wins, just three losses and one unsuccessful fight, but his time in the UFC ended after just one fight, marred by several controversies, against Gerald Harris. As if the confusion in the octagon wasn't enough, it was discovered that the Brazilian had been arrested in 2002 for attacking a woman outside a nightclub in Balneário Camboriú (SC).

Three years later, having already challenged for the Bellator middleweight belt, Maiquel was once again involved in a riot in Santa Catarina, but this time he quickly went from aggressor to victim. After harassing and attacking a young woman at a gas station, Falcão started a general fight and ended up being beaten by the girl's friends. The one who got the worst was his friend and also a fighter Kaue Mena, who ended up hospitalized in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) in serious condition and had to undergo some surgeries until he fully recovered.

JOSEPH TORREZ: Fighter receives threat, stops robbery and saves family

Joe Torrez was a fighter who was on the other side of the coin. Photo: Reproduction/Facebook

But not only on the side of those who commit the crimes are MMA athletes. A case registered in January this year in the United States caught public attention. With only one victory in seven fights as a professional, Joseph Torrez had his home invaded by bandits, who had threatened him over the phone minutes before, but he prevented the robbery and saved his family.

The case took place in the city of Las Cruces. Torrez received a call warning of the robbery and saying that he and his family would be killed if they did not leave the residence. Upon entering the house, the bandits were surprised by the fighter, who attacked the four robbers. There was a physical fight between them and in the fight one of the robbers ended up dead from stab wounds, another was unconscious and two managed to escape.

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