Jon Koppenhaver responds to recent arrest and comments about Barack Obama
A somewhat contrite and apologetic Jon Koppenhaver — better known as War Machine — has posted a new blog on his MySpace page following last weekend’s arrest in Las Vegas.
War Machine, who has lost jobs with both the UFC and Bellator Fighting Championships because of his outlandish behavior and outrageous comments, spoke about some of the things that have gotten him into hot water recently.
After posting a message stating his desire to see someone put a bullet into President Barack Obama, Koppenhaver responded to the backlash his comments caused.
“First, I need to admit that my comment regarding Obama was completely out of line,” Koppenhaver wrote. “In all sincerity I do not wish any harm done to the President and I realize that it was a very stupid thing to write so I am publicly apologizing to the President and to his supporters.”
Koppenhaver blamed his behavior on some bad advice given to him in the beginning of his career. He was told that being controversial would enhance his marketability as a fighter. While this has been true for such fighters as Tito Ortiz, you never heard Tito calling for the president to be shot.
As far as his comments regarding Disney and Bellator, Koppenhaver said he doesn’t blame them for his dismissal.
“You can’t imagine the frustration of training day after day, week after week, year after year, to do one thing: FIGHT,” said Koppenhaver. “I was really looking forward to showcasing my ability in that tournament. There’s no way for you to imagine the heart break I felt when I found out that I wasn’t going to be able to compete. Looking back now, I realize that if I ran an up and coming professional organization like Bellator, I wouldn’t want my event associated with a “wild card” posting crazy shit about the President either. I understand why they did what they did. I admit that. I’m still pissed that I can’t compete in the tournament, but there is no one I can be pissed at other than MYSELF.”
Last but not least, Koppenhaver explains the events surrounding his arrest at an alternative nightclub in Las Vegas on Saturday night. He claimed he was not there as a patron but as an employee. According to Koppenhaver, what happened was a complete misunderstanding and he is confident that he will be exonerated when it’s all said and done.
He concluded his post by stating he has moved back to Vegas and begun training at Xtreme Couture.
“A month ago I moved back to Las Vegas to take advantage of the training partners and resources at Xtreme Couture and I have been training harder and with more intensity and discipline than at any point in my life,” he wrote. “I only have one real goal in my MMA career: to prove to myself and to the world that I am the best. I know that I can compete against the best in the world and I can beat them. All over the underground people are saying that my career is finished, that I’m self-destructing, and that I’m a “loose cannon.” What I have to say to those people is this: WATCH ME. I am one of the hardest working fighters in MMA today. Though I admit I’ve made a couple of dumb decisions, I want the world to know that I will prove every critic wrong. I’ll fight wherever I can, and I’ll prove that I belong at the very top. I thank my supporters for sticking by me, and I dare my haters to bet against me.”
It sounds as though someone has finally gotten into Koppenhaver’s ear and told him to cut the nonsense out if he has any plans on becoming gainfully employed in the near future.
Up until this latest blog, Koppenhaver claimed to be a free spirit and that no one could shut him up — not even the $250,000 prize being offered by Bellator to the winner of its welterweight tournament.
Is it too late for him? Only time will tell. I am all for second chances but seems to me he has already used his second chance up.
