War Machine seeks forgiveness after brutal assault that almost killed ex-girlfriend Christy Mack

Christine Mackinday, also known as Christy Mack, points toward Jonathan Paul Koppenhaver, also known as War Machine, during a preliminary hearing. Photo / AP

The former MMA fighter who faces life in prison for kidnapping and sexually assaulting his porn star ex-girlfriend has begged for her forgiveness and says being convicted of the crimes saved his life.

Jonathan Paul Koppenhaver, who changed his name legally to War Machine, was convicted March 20 on 29 counts for the 2014 crimes against his ex girlfriend Christy Mack., the Daily Mail reports.

He posted the apology link to a Johnny Cash lyric on Twitter: "Oh, I knew I had it comin', I knew I couldn't be free..."

From Clark County Detention Center in Las Vegas, War Machine, 35, broke his silence on Twitter since his conviction, and begged for Mack to let him apologise: "CHRISTY: I am sorry for the man that I was, I am sorry for hurting you. One day, when enough time has passed, and when your wounds are fully healed, I hope that you will write to me, or, perhaps, even visit me, so that I can apologise completely, and so that I can tell you about all that I have found in regard to god. ... I will never cease to pray for you."

He writes that he had traded in his old 'false' life for his 'real' one behind bars.

About the convictions, he wrote: "Well, that didn't go very well, now did it? Would you believe me, though, if I said that I have nothing but joy inside, even now as I am sure to receive some type of life sentence? It's true."

"Often times I have heard men in neighbouring cells go to their cells and cry after receiving such news, but how can I? How can I cry tears of sorrow over the circumstances responsible for saving my soul?"

He also speaks in the Twitter post to his family members and tells them not to worry for him.

Jurors deadlocked Monday on two attempted-murder charges against War Machine. He will be sentenced on June 5 in Las Vegas.

Koppenhaver was also charged with threatening her male friend Corey Thomas when he found them together in bed in 2014.

In closing arguments, Leiderman suggested that the jury never learned many things about the August 2014 attack at Mack's home, including Koppenhaver's state of mind, and therefore could not know if he intended to commit a crime.