Will Chope released from UFC -- due diligence failure by Zuffa?

Discussion in 'MMA - Mixed Martial Arts' started by speeds, Mar 23, 2014.

  1. speeds

    speeds $2.50 highball, $1.50 beer Staff Member Administrator GFX Team

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    Will Chope was scheduled to fight Diego Brandao tonight. The fight has been cancelled and Chope has been released from the UFC. Chope will still be paid his 'show' money for time spent. Brandao will be paid both his 'show' and 'win' money.

    In the lead up to his second fight in the UFC, details of Chope's release from the US Air Force came to light. Chope was allegedly let go from the USAF for repeated domestic abuse issues with his ex-wife that included a threatening incident with a knife. Chope and his ex- have a daughter together and according to Chope they are now on good terms. MMA.tv users discussed this information at length this week and many called for Chope's release, branding him a 'wife-beater'.

    This isn't the first time the UFC has had issues with background checks. Ben Brinzer was briefly on the UFC roster before allegations of his past association with hate groups were made. They have previously allowed clothing manufacturer Holzer Reich to sponsor fighters before realizing that the iconography used by HR was unabashedly Nazi-influenced. Former UFC ring card girl Chandella Powell resigned or was released when her pornographic photographs were discovered on the internet. Several UFC ring card girls have posed nude in the past with the UFC's overwhelming approval.

    The distinction between acceptable and unacceptable behaviour for Zuffa-contracted fighters is ambiguous. Former UFC Heavyweight Champion Ricco Rodriguez crashed his car while intoxicated and pulled his unconscious girlfriend into the driver's seat before the police arrived. Former UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Quentin Jackson evaded police in a chase that caused extensive property damage including one accident that allegedly caused a woman to miscarriage. Rodriguez and Jackson were not released from the company for those incidents. Former WEC Bantamweight Champion Miguel Torres tweeted a joke about rape vans (from Workaholics) and was released from the company.

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    Last edited: Mar 23, 2014

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