War Machine shuns society’s shackles
By BOB EMANUEL JR. | Scripps Howard News Service
Blunt. Outspoken. Direct.
Those words put the headlock on War Machine’s personality.
But to label War Machine — born Jonathan Koppenhaver — merely a fighter would be inappropriate.
War Machine is a free spirit who shuns the shackles of society and the traditional roles it offers.
A welterweight competing in Bellator MMA’s Season Nine tournament, War Machine fights because it’s about the only profession he can see for himself.
“I can’t really live in normal society,” he said. “I can’t really stand rules. I can’t stay in a box. It’s not my thing. I can’t live that normal life. I became a fighter because I wanted freedom. It’s one of the only jobs where I thought I could do whatever I wanted to do and still make a living.”
His passion for fighting has often landed War Machine in trouble. He was incarcerated twice for bar altercations.
While in prison, War Machine never doubted his MMA career would resume. He was good at his craft, and he knew opportunities would remain. But War Machine ruled out a return to the Ultimate Fighting Championship, where he launched his career. He felt the UFC was too restrictive for his personality and has not been with the promotion since May 2008.
“I can’t play their game. It’s like Nazi Germany over there,” he said. “You can’t do nothing over there. I’m not going to play that. I’m not going to pretend I’m someone else when I’m not. I want to be me. I want people to know who I really am.”
While he was on “The Ultimate Fighter” and during his UFC career, War Machine gained a following. Suddenly “porn chicks and hot chicks would hit me up on MySpace,” and he made some contacts. Following the first post-UFC loss in October 2009, War Machine tried a secondary profession — adult-film actor.
“I got into a funk. I had a (five)-fight win streak and got robbed with a split decision by (David Mitchell),” War Machine said. “I needed a break from fighting. I just got out of a relationship. I kind of gave up on the whole idea of a regular marriage … I called up one of the girls I knew and said, ‘Hey, I want to do it.’”
While he still dabbles in adult films, War Machine returned to his roots in MMA around his 2010 and 2012 sentences. He was slated to make his debut with Bellator MMA earlier this year, but a knee injury forced his premiere back to the summer when he defeated Vaughn Anderson. War Machine won his quarterfinal bout in the Season Nine welterweight tournament last month and will fight Ron Keslar, a late addition to the tournament, next Friday at Bellator 104.
“He’s an up-and-comer,” War Machine said. “He’s obviously tough because he wasn’t in shape (for the quarterfinals). He pulled off the win. I was there. He was in my locker room. He was throwing up for 20 minutes after the fight. He was so exhausted. He’s got guts. He’s got heart. He’s a tough dude. I think he’s tougher than my last two opponents.”
War Machine is two victories away from changing his life with a $100,000 prize and a future title shot.
“I got out of jail, and I was driving a straight ghetto car,” he said. “I was living in a garage for three or four months. I was hurting. I had no money … To win the $100,000, it would really jumpstart my life.
“I want to open my own gym. I want to get a house with my girlfriend and have a future. That first $100,000, I’d put it in the bank. The title shot? Every fighter, when they start out their career, they want one day to have a world championship title. It would help me open up my gym. I’m very excited about it.”
