Sherdog.com’s 2014 Story of the Year

5. Domestic Violence in MMA

The most indelible sports image of 2014 was not a spectacular touchdown grab, walk-off home run, gravity-defying dunk or even a classic back-and-forth brawl.

Instead, the moment that many will remember most is that of NFL running back Ray Rice knocking out then-fiancée Janay Rice in an elevator. The video, obtained and released by tabloid website TMZ, went viral and brought the NFL under intense scrutiny for initially suspending the Baltimore Ravens star for only two games.

More importantly, it made us address how we view and handle domestic violence cases, especially when the offending party is an acclaimed professional athlete. Unfortunately, mixed martial arts also experienced an epidemic of domestic violence among some of its most prominent names in 2014. Three men, former light heavyweight contender Thiago Silva, controversial Bellator middleweight War Machine and current UFC 205-pound title hopeful Anthony Johnson, all made
headlines for alleged violence outside the cage.

How their employers chose to handle the incidents varied greatly, demonstrating at times that a lack of sensitivity still exists when it comes to handling issues allegedly involving domestic violence.

Silva’s disturbing saga began outside the Pablo Popovitch Jiu-Jitsu school in Florida in February, when the fighter was reportedly armed and threatened people inside the academy before leaving and barricading himself inside his home. Silva was eventually taken into custody following a SWAT standoff. The Brazilian, who was supposedly upset about a relationship between Popovitch and his estranged wife, was charged with aggravated assault with a firearm and aggravated battery with a deadly weapon. As a result, his UFC contract was terminated.

However, when charges were dropped because Silva’s wife was uncooperative in the case and had likely fled the country, Silva was welcomed back to the promotion with open arms. The UFC had to do a complete 180 two weeks later when video surfaced of him searching his estranged wife’s house, allegedly under the influence of cocaine, and carrying a concealed weapon. Eventually the UFC got it right, but its decision to gloss over key facts in order to bring talent back to the Octagon was certainly unnerving.

Bellator had no such issues in dealing with Machine, also known as Jon Koppenhaver, when he became the primary suspect in an altercation at girlfriend Christy Mack’s house that left her hospitalized. The Scott Coker-led promotion did not waste time severing ties with the middleweight, who had a history of run-ins with the law. As more sickening details about the assault came to light, including an disturbing account posted by Mack, Bellator’s stance looked even more admirable than it first did -- although its initial decision to promote someone with Koppenhaver’s history was certainly questionable. Eventually, Machine was tracked down and arrested by authorities. Now facing a total of 32 charges, he could be looking at life in prison without parole.

Of the three alleged offenders, Johnson currently ranks as the most valuable commodity in the sport. Rejuvenated as a light heavyweight, “Rumble” returned to the UFC in style this year with dominant triumphs over Phil Davis and Antonio Rogerio Nogueira. On Jan. 24, he is set to face Alexander Gustafsson, with a shot at the light heavyweight title on the line. His outlook was far more bleak in September, when he was suspended indefinitely by the UFC after it was revealed that the mother of his two children had obtained a restraining order against him due to alleged threats and a history of abuse. The accusations were even more troubling considering that Johnson had previously been arrested in 2009 following an altercation with a different woman.

When a civil lawsuit against Johnson was dismissed in November, however, the light heavyweight contender was reinstated by the promotion. The UFC also claimed to have conducted its own investigation into the matter.

Johnson could eventually be fighting in a high-profile title bout sometime in 2015. If that happens, expect his past to resurface, even though his name has been cleared. Considering the troubling year that was in MMA -- and that does not include the case of retired fighter Josh Grispi -- it is an issue that is not going away anytime soon.

Continue Reading » 2014 Fighter of the Year