War Machine cut from UFC

by lovingmma25 on Sep 12, 2008 1:58 PM EDT Comment 24 comments

http://mmajunkie.com/news/5275/war-machine-ufc-cut-me-over-declined-fight-evan-tanner-comments.mma

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War Machine (5-2 MMA, 1-1 UFC), "The Ultimate Fighter 6" cast member previously known as Jon Koppenhaver before he legally changed his name, has been dropped by the UFC in the wake up a controversial web posting the fighter made regarding the death of former UFC champion Evan Tanner.

War Machine said he recently turned down a fight -- one with an opponent who had little name recognition -- and that the decision may have also played a part in the UFC's decision to drop him from the roster.

"The UFC cut me," Koppenhaver confirmed with MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com).

Earlier this week, the mixed-martial-arts community learned that former UFC middleweight champion Evan Tanner died while camping out in a California desert. Initially, little was known about the situation other than a body had been found and that it was believed to be Tanner.

Upon learning of the news, Koppenhaver posted a MySpace bulletin in which he speculated that Tanner had committed suicide and that he may have been depressed over the fact that his career might be over and that he had little to show financially for all his greatness.

The FanPosts are solely the subjective opinions of Bloody Elbow readers and do not necessarily reflect the views of Bloody Elbow editors or staff.

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“I still believe in my heart it was a suicide,” War Machine said. “Whether or not — maybe he didn’t shoot himself in the head, but I think he went up there maybe with plans not to come back. I just think he was a great fighter, he was a champion, and I guarantee you that he never made [expletive] for money. I guarantee you that he was at the end of his rope. There was no chance for a comeback. He was depressed, guaranteed. He had just lost to Kendall [Grove]. He was getting older. He knows he has no retirement plan. He had nothing, dude. That could be the outcome for a lot of fighters, myself included. I for damn sure guarantee you that if I’m in my 40s and I didn’t make enough money and I don’t have my own gym to support myself or whatever, I’ll probably kill myself too.”

What an idiot.

by Nick Thomas on Sep 12, 2008 2:01 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Good on the UFC. I’ll never waste another word on this retard.

by Chris Nelson on Sep 12, 2008 2:07 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

"War Machine said he recently turned down a fight — one with an opponent who had little name recognition — and that the decision may have also played a part in the UFC’s decision to drop him from the roster. "

What a DUMBASS.

I still fail to see why fighters can be so stupid, when so much evidence shows that the best way to get ahead in the UFC is to shut up, do what they tell you, and not make waves except when hyping fights.

Good riddance to the Lutters and the Machines of the world. All hail Jason MacDonald.

by Michaelthebox on Sep 12, 2008 2:40 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Reads rest of article, smacks forehead.

I was wrong. War Machine isn’t a dumbass. He’s a grade-A fucking idiot.

by Michaelthebox on Sep 12, 2008 2:42 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

He wasn’t relevant in the division…good move.

http://mma4real.net/

by Tha Realness on Sep 12, 2008 2:56 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Good for both the UFC and for War Machine really. As he points out himself, he’s not ready for the big show. This gives him a chance to get some experience and, thanks to TUF, get paid well at the same time.

by FRANKIE on Sep 12, 2008 3:32 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Shame

I was rooting for him during and after the show (the J-Roll fight) because he reminded me a bit of myself (albeit, when I was a fuckin teenager). Then he started posting all this ridiculous rambling bullshit on his blog and it was all downhill from there. I think he’s become delusional. Maybe he’ll grow up someday..

by Blackout612 on Sep 12, 2008 3:01 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Who says he has to fight a fighter with a name anyways? His buddies from Hawaii told him the guy was game – what an ass.

Jason McDonald is looking to fight again this year – he’s hungry for that title.

"My job is a decision-making job, and as a result, I make a lot of decisions." --George W. Bush, The Decider, Lancaster, Pa., Oct. 3, 2007

by lovingmma25 on Sep 12, 2008 3:02 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Jason MacDonald

We need more fighters like this dude, take a fight for the UFC wherever, whenever, whoever. I just love the kid’s heart. He keeps grinding it out on the UFC stage and he’s making bank for it. Picked up sub of the night last UFC. Next thing you know he’s going to be onto his next contract.

"Men like me are like comets, destined to be consumed by lighting up their century"

- Napolean

by Kris McKillop on Sep 12, 2008 4:48 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Jason MacDonald is one of my favorite fighters. He doesn’t always win but I always enjoy watching him fight. Every fight he shows you creative BJJ, hell, I think he hung with Maia on the ground more than anyone thought he would. In one of his first fights in the UFC he had a triangle choke and a kimora at the same time at one point. I know this is a little off topic, but I was happy to see someone talk about Jason MacDonald.

by Dropkick434 on Sep 24, 2008 11:50 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Another example of an idiot with a computer who thinks we need to know his opinions.

Oh..wait….

Damn!

"The bigger the cushion, the sweeter the pushin'"

by BJJDenver on Sep 12, 2008 3:02 PM EDT reply actions 6 recs

hahaha

by Chris Nelson on Sep 12, 2008 3:06 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Nice.

rec’d.

There is no such thing as innocence, only degrees of guilt.

by misterjonez on Sep 12, 2008 3:14 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Don't repost entire articles please

Just cut a couple paragraphs and add some of your own commentary. thanks

by Kid Nate on Sep 12, 2008 3:16 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Will do

"My job is a decision-making job, and as a result, I make a lot of decisions." --George W. Bush, The Decider, Lancaster, Pa., Oct. 3, 2007

by lovingmma25 on Sep 12, 2008 4:12 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

The "offending quote" in Rome's post doesn't put it in context -- this post does.

I have to admit that when I first heard the preliminary report, my first thought was suicide. I believe Tanner was very depressed, he must have realized for the first time that his career was over, and he even made ominous statements about dying on this trip.

I mean give “War Machine” a break, someone who changes his name like that is a little confused.

I told you I can't build your candy house! It will fall apart, the sun will melt the candy, it won't work!

by mma_dude on Sep 12, 2008 3:27 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Who taught that idiot how to use a computer? Now he has plenty of free time to pursue his dream of his Phillipino adventure.

by Ubernoober on Sep 12, 2008 8:28 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Gaffe Machine

War is a total knucklehead. He looked awful falling asleep in his last fight.

Did you know that he changed his name because TNA legally trademarked the “War Machine” nickname for Rhino?

More examples of why Dana doesn’t want him in the UFC:

War Machine was found guilty of choking a Las Vegas man unconscious and hitting him in the face, an incident that occurred September 2. In February 2008, War Machine was sentenced to three years of probation and 30 days of community service, avoiding the possible felony charge and accompanying prison time he was facing.

by thetakeover on Sep 13, 2008 11:34 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Droppen Havered!

Total fool to himself.

Wasted a fantastic opportunity in the UFC. It just goes to show you, if you have no class you will always screw up any chance someone gives you. He could only dream of being a name as big as Evan Tanner.

At least “War Machine” will pick up some royalties soon on a “Best Of” DVD. Choked out in 60 seconds by Yoshida is now his UFC legacy, I’m off to watch the footage again and chuckle … Go Zenko GO!

by Rob J Nathan on Sep 13, 2008 7:43 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I still think he’s one of the nicer guys in MMA. Stupid. Yes. The decker episode confirmed that already. But he ain’t an asshole. He also has a big heart. His fights on TUF were entertaining and he showed a lot of grit. I hope he can gain some experience elsewhere and come back to the UFC when he is mentally ready. Sometimes you guys are too harsh.

by flyingknees on Sep 14, 2008 7:18 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Have you read his blogs...

you know the ones where he says he wants to go to the Philippines and pick fights with people so he can beat somebody up. Or the arrest that he had where he choked a man out and beat his head in. You’re right, he’s a real standup guy.

by B Money on Sep 15, 2008 11:09 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Good call, guy is an ass with no class.

by Rob J Nathan on Sep 18, 2008 11:36 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Bleeding hell war machine

show some respect…. glad to see the UFC has throw that tosser to the curb…

RIP Evan Tanner

by simsy on Sep 18, 2008 7:55 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I disagree

I don’t think he should get fired for what he said. Its an opinion and he has a decent point about mid-level or lower fighters that may have a rough retirement if they have absolutely no skills to fall back on. Evan Tanner is definately better than a mid-level fighter but his prime was before the Ultimate Fighter. And was anyone really surprised to hear Evan Tanner died after he said he was going so deep into the desert that if any equipment failed he was dead? I know suicide was the first thing I thought.

However, If you want to fire Mr. Machine for being a mediocre MMA fighter, that is fine by me.

by Dropkick434 on Sep 25, 2008 12:00 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs