10 MMA Fighters Who Have Been Arrested (& For What Crime)

Fight fans have taken to MMA as the popularity of the sport continued to grow and prosper starting in the early 2000s with most casual fight fans. The UFC megastar fighters, such as Jon Jones and Chael Sonnen, fans respect and admire their talents inside the octagon, but the outside shenanigans and brushes with the law have arguably tarnished their careers.

These legendary fighters may have left their mark inside the octagon, but left a tarnished legacy outside of it as the popularity of the sport continues to grow, change, and evolve.

UFC Light Heavyweight Renato "Babalu" Sobral

An Accomplished Grappling Specialist Charged With Battery

• Holds notable victories over Chael Sonnen and Mauricio Rua.
• Former Strikeforce Light Heavyweight Champion and Cage Rage Light Heavyweight Champion.
• He was cut from the UFC after holding on to the submission too long.

Renato Sobral was a fighter in the light heavyweight division known for his superior grappling techniques. Between his tenure fighting in Brazil and the global market in Strikeforce, then later UFC, he left his mark on the MMA community.

In 2007, "Babalu" was arrested then charged for trespassing and with battery after an incident involving a club bouncer at a Hard Rock Hotel in Tampa, FL. Police at the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Department declined to comment at the time, as Sobral was released on $1,000 bond.

UFC Welterweight Jorge Masvidal

An Extraordinary Technician That Took The Fight Too Far

• One of the few well-known fighters who never won a single MMA or UFC championship in his career.
• He also explored other ventures outside MMA, including Hollywood acting, and also provided commentary for select events.
• Masvidal combined elements of street fighting, boxing, and kickboxing.

Masvidal got into a huge dispute with former friend and UFC rival, Colby Covington stemming back from March 2022. Jorge was accused of assaulting Covington outside a steakhouse in Miami, FL, striking Covington twice in the face. This incident occurred only a couple of weeks after a heated trash-talking exchange that (apparently) was taken too far. Colby suffered a broken tooth as a result of the assault and claimed that he also sustained a "brain injury" due to the blows thrown by Jorge.

The case was letter settled in November 2023, as Jorge pleaded no contest to the crime. He was back in the headlines recently after making threats at Nate Diaz and Jake Paul.

UFC Welterweight Jeremy Jackson

An Orthodox Fighter Whose Career Was Tarnished By A Heinous Crime

• He often goes by the nickname "The Scorpion".
• Jackson fought in various MMA leagues, including UFC, Kage Kombat, IFC, and Gladiator Challenge, to name a few.
• Known for his trilogy of combative fights with Nick Diaz.

Jeremy "The Scorpion" Jackson began his career in MMA in September 2001. He was arrested in June 2008 for seven felony offenses, which included two counts of forcible rape on his ex-girlfriend for an attempted burglary. In 2010, Jeremy Jackson pleaded guilty to the crimes and was sentenced to 25 years to life. Jackson went against the advice of his lawyers by pleading guilty to avoid sending the case to trial.

UFC Lightweight Hermes Franca

A Brazilian Black Belt In Jiu-Jitsu That Faced Serious Trouble Outside The Octagon

• Franca competed for the UFC between 2003 and 2009.
• The highlight of his MMA career was in July 2007 with a loss to Sean Shark for the UFC Lightweight Championship.
• He went 8-0 between 2001-2003, but suffered his first loss at UFC 46 against Josh Thompson.

Hermes Franca had a lot of potential in the world of MMA, which unfortunately, ended up being completely wasted. In May 2011, Franca was charged with seven counts of first-degree sexual assault and two counts of second-degree unlawful sexual penetration, as he turned himself in to the police after a warrant was issued for his arrest. In June 2013, Franca was sentenced to three-and-a-half years after being convicted of sexual assault charges. A year later, in 2014, he was deported back to Brazil to finish the remaining months of his prison sentence before being released.

Strikeforce Title Contender Jason "Mayhem" Miller

A Successful MMA Fighter Who Suffered A Lifelong Battle With His Personal Demons

• He struggled with substance abuse and legal issues throughout his life.
• Miller is known for his flamboyant personality in and out of the octagon.
• He appeared in several movies, including "Here Comes the Boom" and "The Butchers".

Jason Miller is an adventurous spirit with a charismatic personality and became one of the most enigmatic figures in MMA. Unfortunately, he has faced some trouble with the law over the years, with his most notable offense occurring on August 30, 2023. Miller was charged for allegedly choking out a fan in Los Angeles, CA. A fan approached Miller to say hello, which annoyed Miller and a verbal dispute began between the two men. Things took a turn for the worse, as Miller attacked the fan and choked him out. Security intervened, as Miller was taken into custody for a short time before being released on bond. The case is still ongoing with charges pending.

"War Machine" Jonathan Koppenhaver

The War Machine Has Been Locked Up For Good

• Took care of his siblings when his mom struggled with substance abuse problems.
• Completed his MMA career with a 14-5 record throughout various promotions, including the UFC.
• Jonathan Koppenhaver was also a former porn star.

Jon Koppenhaver was charged kidnapping, sexual assault, and beating his ex-girlfriend and porn star, Christy Mack, and at her home in Las Vegas, NV, in 2014. The case was taken to court, as jurors became deadlocked on the two counts of attempted murder. He was convicted and found guilty of 29 felony and misdemeanor charges stemming from the assault on Christy Mack. As of 2014, he was faced with 36 years in prison.

"The Notorious" Conor McGregor

A Larger-Than-Life Fighter With A Damaged Reputation

• He returned to the octagon following a brief retirement in 2020 with a highly anticipated fight against Dustin Poirier.
• McGregor carries outside endorsements with Monster Energy, Reebok, and Beats by Dre.
• He's suffered multiple legal issues throughout his career.

Conor McGregor has faced multiple criminal charges over the years. In 2018, he was charged with three counts of assault and one count of criminal mischief during a UFC Press Conference, throwing two guard rails at a bus carrying fellow UFC fighters and smashing out a window, injuring two fighters. In 2019, he was charged for allegedly sexually assaulting a woman in a Dublin Hotel stemming from a visit in December 2018.

UFC Title Challenger Chael Sonnen

A Retired MMA Fighter Who Faced Several Charges

• Sonnen became known for his charismatic and controversial personality.
• Chael used his experiences inside and outside the octagon to become a motivational speaker.
• Sonnen shared his life experiences in a book titled, "The Voice of Reason: A V.I.P. Pass to Enlightenment".

Chael Sonnen was faced with six misdemeanor battery charges, with two of these charges being dropped, and the others dismissed by the judge after an incident against a couple in December 2021. In July 2023, Sonnen took a plea deal which resulted in a no contest charge with no jail time and being issued a fine of $750. A lawsuit was filed by the couple involved in the assault charges which is still ongoing.

UFC Legend Jon Jones

The Most Talented MMA With A Criminal Past

• Jon Jones held the UFC Light Heavyweight Championship for a record seven times.
• He is currently undefeated despite one no contest and disqualification on his record.
• Jones is the youngest UFC Light Heavyweight Champion in history.

Jon Jones has faced his fair share of legal issues. He was charged with a hit-and-run arrest in 2015, crashing his car into another car being driven by a pregnant woman. Thankfully, she and the baby suffered non-life-threatening injuries. His most recent arrest came in 2021 over domestic violence and vehicle tampering involving his fiancée, Jesse Mosses, hours after being inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame. For this crime, Jones accepted a plea deal to stay out of jail as the domestic violence charges were dismissed.

Former UFC Champion Cain Velasquez

One Of The Best MMA Heavyweight Fighters Faced Murder Charges

• Holds notable wins over Brock Lesnar, Antonio Silva, and Junior dos Santos.
• One of the most aggressive wrestlers and can be a deadly adversary when combined with his striking abilities.
• Arguably considered to be a true legend in the sport of MMA.

Despite his amazing career, Cain Velasquez was not invincible from the law. He was charged with attempted murder and ten counts of gun-related charges. This is from an incident in Santa Clara, California as Velasquez allegedly chased a man down in his car and shot at him. The man being chased was Harry Goularte, who Velasquez believed molested his four-year-old son. In November 2022, he was granted $1 million bail.