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Jury convicts former MMA fighter War Machine of kidnapping and sexual assault

Jonathan Paul Koppenhaver is seen in court in Las Vegas in 2015.
(John Locher / Associated Press)
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A jury in Las Vegas has found a former mixed martial arts fighter known as War Machine guilty of kidnapping and sexually assaulting his ex-girlfriend.

Jurors deadlocked Monday on two attempted-murder charges against Jonathan Paul Koppenhaver but convicted him of 29 counts. He could face up to life in prison.

Koppenhaver went by his birth name during the two-week trial but had legally changed it to War Machine during his 19-fight MMA career.

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Defense attorney Jay Leiderman had conceded Koppenhaver’s guilt on eight lesser domestic battery charges, including punching and injuring ex-girlfriend Christy Mack.

Koppenhaver also was charged with threatening Mack’s male friend Corey Thomas when he found them together in bed in 2014.

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