War Machine releases statement after guilty verdict: I have nothing but joy inside

Back in 2014, UFC and Bellator veteran Jon Koppenhaver – more widely known as War Machine – brutalized his ex girlfriend Christy Mack, leaving her with a “blowout fracture of her left eye and several other broken bones in her face, two missing teeth, a lacerated liver, broken ribs and serious bruising in several places.” During this attack, War Machine also assaulted Mack’s then-boyfriend, Corey Thomas, with such severity that Mack believed he was going to be killed.

Over the last few weeks, War Machine underwent his trial for these grisly attacks, and on March 21, we learned that he’d been found guilty on 29 of 34 charges.

Having been found guilty, War Machine has now posted a statement to his Twitter account. In this statement, he addresses Mack, his MMA mentor Phil Baroni, and his family. It reads as follows:

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 neighboring 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? These circumstances are what has transformed me into a real man, how can I disrespect god by weeping over them? How much is a soul worth? Is a life sentence too high a price? Not at all, I gladly trade this false life in for the real one to come; I have been nothing but blessed by all of this. Now, if only I could somehow receive Christy’s forgiveness… And if only I could one day hear that she too had been saved! That would remove every last bit of tarnish from this tragedy. 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 apologize completely, and so that I can tell you about all that I have found in regard to god. He is real and can heal and complete you deep inside, if only you knew the full extent to which he had healed me… I will never cease to pray for you. MELISSA & SHANNAH: You have been the best sisters a guy could ever ask for, I love you two so much. BRANDON: You have gone far above and beyond the call of duty as a friend, I’m still in awe of all you have done. STACI: Thank you for your service to god, without you I may never have been found. PHIL: Thakk you for your presence at court, sorry for failing you as a protege. HERMAN: Sorry for failing you as a mentor, you have grown into a good man, I am proud of you. JULIA: You have been a true gift from god, if only… And to the rest of my loved ones: Never worry about me, I am at peace, I am alive and happy for the first time in my life.

What do you think of this statement from War Machine?

This article first appeared on BJPenn.com on 3/28/2017.