Arrest warrant targets War Machine in beating

The victim in last week’s alleged domestic abuse involving a hot-headed mixed-martial arts fighter said she was scared for her life.

The attack left Christy Mack with 18 broken bones around her eye, her nose broken, teeth missing, a ruptured liver and a broken leg, according to a statement released by Mack on her Twitter account Monday.

The tweet said her ex-boyfriend, War Machine, who changed his name legally from Jonathan Koppenhaver, showed up at her house about 2 a.m. Friday while she was with a friend. Mack and Machine split in May, the statement said.

Machine beat the friend and kicked him out of the house, according to the statement, before turning on Mack.

“He made me undress and shower in front of him, then dragged me out and beat my face,” Mack’s statement said.

Machine armed himself with a kitchen knife and “pushed the knife into me in some areas such as my hand, ear, and head,” Mack’s statement said. He also used the knife to cut off part of her hair, she said.

At some point, the knife broke, and he started to beat her again, Mack said.

“After another hit or two, he left me on the floor bleeding and shaking, holding my side from the pain of my rib,” the statement said.

Scared he would come back to kill her, Mack ran out the back door and alerted one of her neighbors.

“I believed I was going to die,” Mack said. “He has beaten me many times before but never this badly.”

Las Vegas police did not respond to calls for comment Monday.

Las Vegas police quickly identified Machine as the suspect in the assault, and an arrest warrant was issued for him Monday. He faces several charges related to Mack’s allegations, including battery by strangulation, domestic battery, assault and open and gross lewdness, court records show.

Since the reported incident, Machine has been active on social media, tweeting several times while on the run. On Friday, police said they believed he might have gone to San Diego.

Machine posted a series of messages Saturday on Mack’s Twitter account saying he was shocked at what happened.

“I love you and hope you’re okay. I cam him (sic) early to surprise you and help you set up for your convention. I can’t believe what I found and can’t believe what happened. All I wanted was to surprise you and help and do something nice now this. I’m so heart broke in all ways. I will always love you,” he posted.

Late Sunday night, Machine again turned to Twitter.

“I’m not a bad guy, I went to surprise my gf, help her set up her show and to give her an engagement ring and ended up fighting for my life. The cops will never give me fair play, never believe me. Still deciding what to do but at the end of the day it’s all just heart breaking. I only wish that man hadn’t been there and that Christy &I would behappily(sic) engaged. I don’t know y I’m so cursed. On day truth will come out.”

Machine’s recent charges weren’t his first involving violence.

In 2011, he was the subject of a negligence lawsuit against him; Kelly Murphy, former owner of the now-closed gay nightclub Krave; and Murphy’s company. A club patron alleged Machine beat him up while working as a bouncer.

In 2010, he was arrested in San Diego after he punched a bouncer at a bar and was sentenced to a year in jail.

In 2009, Machine was arrested on a felony charge of domestic violence with strangulation, which was dismissed, and a misdemeanor charge of domestic violence with battery. Machine pleaded guilty to the misdemeanor charge and was ordered to do counseling.

Contact reporter Colton Lochhead at clochhead@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-4638. Find him on Twitter: @ColtonLochhead.