War Machine, aka Jonathan Paul Koppenhaver. Photo / Supplied
War Machine, aka Jonathan Paul Koppenhaver. Photo / Supplied
FORMER Mixed Martial Arts star War Machine has reportedly found love while serving a life sentence behind bars.
Disgraced former UFC and Bellator fighter Jon Koppenhaver — who legally changed his name to War Machine — was last year sentenced to life in prison after he was found guilty of 29 charges, including sexual assault and kidnapping against his former girlfriend Christy Mack during a horrific attack in August 2014.
Former porn star and model Mack was left with serious injuries, including broken teeth, fractured ribs, a broken nose and a ruptured liver when War Machine attacked her after finding the 26-year-old in bed with internet mogul Corey Thomas.
Thomas has previously revealed he feared for his life after War Machine found him in bed with Mack when the MMA fighter claimed he was still in a relationship with the adult film star.
Thomas suffered a broken nose, dislocated shoulder, bruises, and bite marks.
"Family sources close to Ashley tell TMZ... (the fighter) first got acquainted with Ashley when she started writing to him as his pen pal last summer. We're told the relationship evolved to visits to Ely State Prison."
Koppenhaver has previously expressed remorse for his actions.
"Not a day goes by that I don't seriously regret some of the things I did," he said in a statement on the day of his sentencing.
"I was a lost and empty person. I hated the way that I think. I hated my impulses. It caused me to hate myself. I hate myself way more than any of these people do.
"I would look at myself in the mirror and smash my face. That's how much I hated myself. It was the only thing I could do to prevent myself from killing myself.
"I gave my life to God. For the first time in my entire life, it's brought me peace inside. It's helped me to remove my self hate. It's given me the ability to manage my depression and anxiety.
"I hated that this happened. I hate that I had to hurt the woman I loved. I hate that I had to ruin my career. But it's been a blessing in my life. It's made me grow into a real man.
"No matter what happens in this case or the future, I'm just glad that I finally have woken up and seen the truth. And I really believe I'm going to be able to be a good role model for the rest of my life."
The New England Patriots player, who was serving a life sentence for murder without the possibility of parole, was found dead in prison cell after apparently taking his own life.
A jury of six men and six women had been deadlocked on two attempted murder charges against Koppenhaver, who was also acquitted of burglary with a deadly weapon, sexually motivated coercion and battery with intent to commit sexual assault.
Prosecutors said Koppenhaver beat Mack, 25, for nearly two hours during the August 2014 attack before she was able to escape and get help.
At one point during the attack, he told her, "Now I have to kill you. I've gone too far."
Mack testified during a two-week trial that she was clothed in bed with Thomas — who told jurors he had been dating Mack for about two months at the time — when Koppenhaver stormed into her home and assaulted the couple.
She was later treated for several serious injuries, including a broken nose, lacerated liver, two lost teeth and a fractured rib.
Mack has said the emotional damage following the attack has been as severe as the injuries she sustained.
Images of Christy Mack Mackinday after the alleged attack. Photo / Instagram
"I never looked at him except when I was asked to identify him," Mack said in April, 2017, adding that she had a total of 18 bones broken near her eye during the attack.
"He had mouthed that he loved me and that was extremely difficult," Mack said.
"And I began bawling immediately. Because, for a long time, I did feel, you know, still emotionally connected to him."
