Josh Grispi’s return to mixed martial arts competition has been cancelled.
A former UFC and WEC fighter, Grispi (14-5), who was at one time considered a rising start in the featherweight division, was scheduled to compete against Bruce Boyington on Feb. 8 at New England Fights 42 in Portland, Maine. However, according to a press release issued by the promotion Sunday, the fight won’t happen.
The release states, “Grispi was forced to bow out of the main event due to legal complications unforeseen at the time of the bout’s signing.”
The specifics of the “legal complications” weren’t elaborated upon. MMA Junkie has reached out to New England Fights, who did not immediately respond to the request for comments.
Bermudez (14-2), who was recently released from the UFC, will now take on Boyington (17-11) in Grispi’s place.
In August 2014, Grispi was arrested after what the Taunton Daily Gazette reported as a “vicious beating” of his wife, Kaitlyn Grispi. Middleboro (Mass.) police officer Richard Harvey called the attack “the worst case of domestic abuse I’ve ever seen.”
In June 2017, a grand jury found Grispi guilty on seven charges, and he was sentenced to five-and-a-half years in the state House of Corrections and five years’ probation.
When asked about the booking in November by MMA Junkie, NEF co-owner and Massachusetts attorney Nick DiSalvo, the promotion was approached by Grispi’s coach, who informed them the 31-year-old fighter would be making an MMA comeback.
DiSalvo recognized the national issue of domestic abuse and didn’t excuse Grispi’s past behavior. In DiSalvo’s eyes, Grispi served his time and was deemed no longer dangerous by the judicial system.
“Domestic abuse is an epidemic in our country,” DiSalvo wrote in a statement to MMA Junkie. “There is no excuse for it. It is a horrific crime. Josh was convicted and did his time in prison. There is nothing that would make us believe he has not been rehabilitated and ready to become a productive member of society. If Massachusetts courts determined he was still a threat to anyone, he would not be walking the streets right now.”
“There is never an excuse for subjecting a loved one to physical or emotional abuse. Josh was convicted and did his time in prison. He is out now and deserves the opportunity to make a living to support his children.”
Ex-UFC fighter Josh Grispi pulled from MMA return due to 'legal complications'
