Above: War Machine rocking a new long hairdo, smiles, as he is released from prison early Monday morning.
LAS VEGAS, Nevada — War Machine, formerly known as Jon Koppenhaver, was released from prison early this morning from Clark County Detention Center in the state of Nevada. He will be going back to his home in San Diego, California despite the initial terms of his probation due to a deal his attorney worked out with officials in Nevada.
It has been arranged for War Machine to go back to San Diego to begin his training camp at the Undisputed Gym. His instructor Baret Yoshida and teammates will then get to work helping him get ready for his return to MMA inside the Bellator cage sometime in the near future.
His debut for Bellator was delayed, after he was locked up on past charges earlier this year. War Machine’s colorful past includes a stint on TUF 6, two fights in the UFC where he went 1-1, getting cut from the UFC due to controversial comments he made about fighter pay and Evan Tanner’s death, getting let go by Bellator before ever fighting for them due to controversial comments he made about President Barack Obama, a brief career as a porn star, more legal problems due to beating up porn "pimps" at a porn party, and a win over former UFC star Roger Huerta in his most recent bout last November. The controversial welterweight (12-4) was then re-signed by Bellator late last year.
Over the past 8 months, while in prison, it has been said from sources close to War Machine that he spent his time behind bars productively by reading a survey of Western Philosophy’s greatest minds: Kierkegaard, Hegel, Nietzsche, etc. The same source said he was given a steady supply of books and has regained his focus and motivation. Hopefully, that translates well for him both inside and outside of the cage.