Will Chope pulled from card over 2009 assault of wife
Will Chope, who was to have fought Diego Brandao at UFN 38, has been release from his contract by the UFC following reports he assaulted his wife in 2009.
Bleacher Report recently reported that Will Chope, who was to have fought Diego Brandao at UFC Fight Night 38, had received a bad conduct discharge from the Air Force, for verbally and physically assaulting his wife on more than one occasion, and threatening her with a knife in November of 2009. Chope was also given five months confinement.
Chope offered a brief statement via Facebook:
I fight today. But I just want to make a small post about what has been brought up last night. I made some mistakes in my past. The incidents happened 5 years ago and I will live with them for the rest of my life. But I just want everyone to know the articles are being sensationalized right now and me and my ex wife have spoken about this and we would like everyone to know that we are friends now and have moved on and are different people and are just trying to be good parents to our daughter. She also made a post on her personal page she is allowing me to share. I will make a formal address to this issue after the fight, but I hope this is suffice until then.
Hpwever, the UFC released Chope from his contract, and canceled the fight with Brandao.
The UFC does not condone behavior of this nature whatsoever and Chope has been released from his contract, read the official statement. The UFC paid Brandao both his show money, and his win money. In addition, although he was cut before the fight, Chope also received his show money.
Chope, who learned of his firing on Twitter, then apologized:
Will The Kill Chope @AsiaWIllTheKil
@DiegoBrandaoMMA Im truly sorry we cant fight tonight Diego. I apologize to the @ufc as well and will do everything I can to make this right
In an interview with MMAFighting’s Guilherme Cruz, Chope detailed his regrets.
Chope served his punishment, and is by every account a changed and better man. Hopefully his unfortunate past can be overcome, and he can find continued success in the MMA space.