Will "The Kill" Chope (19-6) was scheduled to fight Diego Brandao (18-9) on the preliminary card for UFC Fight Night: Shogun vs. Henderson 2 on Sunday, but after it was revealed that he was discharged from the Air Force as a result of multiple incidents of domestic violence, the UFC cancelled the bout, and he was subsequently released.
The promotion released the following statement:
Tonight's featherweight bout between Will Chope and Diego Brandao has been canceled after UFC officials were made aware of Chope's previous military conviction. The UFC does not condone behavior of this nature whatsoever and Chope has been released from his contract.
Brandao will receive both his show and win money for the bout.
According to documents from the Air Force Court of Appeals, Chope was first punished in July 2009 after assaulting his wife after discovering her infidelity. In Oct. 12, 2009, he assaulted her again and was told by a commanding officer to cease contacting her without permission.
On Nov. 12, 2009, he was given permission to speak to her on the phone to discuss finances regarding their daughter. Chope asked her to pick him up so he could see his daughter, which she reluctantly did. At the home, a previous argument about a credit card continued.
The argument escalated and he told AW that if she did not give him the credit card, he would hurt her. When AW refused, the appellant told her that he had nothing to lose and that he was going back to Florida. He then went to the kitchen, retrieved a paring knife, and threatened AW with it. He grabbed her, slammed her head onto the floor, and hit her on top of her head with both the knife handle and his hand. When AW screamed for help, the appellant took her onto the ground, and used a “pillow or blanket” to silence her screams. The appellant continued demanding that she return the credit card, and she continued refusing.
After his release, Chope released a statement on his Facebook page.
