The Professional Fighters League suspended Josh Copeland on Monday after a report surfaced that the heavyweight, a finalist in the promotion’s recent $1 million tournament, was arrested earlier this month in connection with an alleged domestic violence incident at his Colorado home.
Copeland, 36, faces charges of second-degree assault, obstruction of telephone service and criminally negligent child abuse after allegedly punching his wife during a Feb. 2 altercation in front of their son, according to details published by MMAjunkie.com. The arrest was originally reported by TMZ.com.
“The PFL has zero tolerance for matters involving domestic violence,” the fight promotion said in a statement. “Per our company policy, following his arrest, Josh Copeland has been suspended indefinitely.”
According to the TMZ report, Copeland’s wife told police that what began as a verbal altercation turned physical when her husband shoved her and she shoved him back and slapped him multiple times before he punched her in the face, then pushed her onto a bed and took her phone. Police arrived at the Thornton, Colorado, home and, according to the MMAjunkie.com report, found Copeland’s wife “with a bruised eye and blood down her face and on her shirt.”
Copeland (18-6), who competed twice in the UFC — both losses — prior to his PFL stint, made the Season 1 final on Dec. 31 but lost out on the $1 million prize when he was knocked out by Philipe Lins.