UFC forces Wendell Oliveira to change 'War Machine' nickname

In news straight out of the "well, obviously, of course this is happening" file, the UFC has told Wendell Oliveira he can no longer use the nickname "War Machine" inside the UFC.

In August, War Machine, a former UFC fighter who has legally changed his name from Jon Koppenhaver, was arrested following a manhunt and now faces 32 felony charges in relation to an alleged assault on his ex-girlfriend and another male. Obviously, the UFC would like to distance itself from any association with the War Machine name.

Oliveira, a 31-year-old Brazilian welterweight, is set to make his UFC debut on Saturday night and had maintained this week he would keep the name for the silliest of reasons:

That was awful. When the news came out, a lot of friends called me asking what happened because the stories had no photo in Brazil. I’m in Brazil, he’s in the United States. We’re not the same person.
...
I won’t change my nickname because I’m the real ‘war machine.’ I finish my fights, that’s who I am. He’s not a ‘war machine.’ I honor this name, he doesn't honor the sport. He has to find a new nickname for himself.

Oliveira also goes by the nickname Negao but was instead introduced simply as "The Machine" at weigh-ins Friday. UFC officials confirmed to MMAFighting.com they had forced the change in nickname.