A featherweight match-up between Diego Brandao and Will Chope has been removed from the UFC Fight Night 38 fight card, after news came out about Chope’s past on Saturday. Not only was the fight cancelled, but Will Chope was released from the UFC as well.
Bleacher Report‘s Jeremy Botter put out a story that Chope was kicked out of the U.S. Air Force after assaulting his wife with a knife in 2009. The altercation apparently occurred after Chope found out his wife was cheating on him. According to the Air Force the situation didn’t only happen once.
On Sunday, Chope put out a post on his official Facebook page regarding the situation.
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.
UFC officials released a statement on the release of Chope on Sunday.
“The UFC does not condone behavior of this nature whatsoever and Chope has been released from his contract.”
Chope (19-6) made his UFC debut against Max Holloway at UFC Fight Night 34, where he lost via second round TKO. Prior to making his promotional debut, Chope was riding a 14-fight winning streak.
MMASucka.com spoke with Chope prior to his UFC debut and he said that fighting for the organization was a dream come true. Check out that interview below.
