Two-time former Bellator MMA featherweight champion Daniel
Straus was arrested on Friday and charged with aggravated
battery with a deadly weapon, according to a report from the
South Florida Sun-Sentinel.
Straus’ bond is set at $100,000, and he remained in jail as of
Monday afternoon. During a Saturday hearing, Judge Terri-Ann Miller
kept Straus’ bond at $100,000 while mandating that he not have
contact with the alleged victim. Straus is also not allowed to
possess weapons or ammunition.
During the hearing, Straus’ attorney, David Kubiliun, revealed that
the allegation might be from “someone he was in a past relationship
with.”
According to an arrest affadavit from the Hollywood (Fla.) Police
Department initially obtained by
MMAFighting, the alleged incident took place on Jan. 21 when
Strauss and the alleged victim got into an argument over
“infidelity issues in their relationship.” The confrontation turned
physical when Strauss showed up to the victim’s place of work and
followed her to the parking lot. After some shoving from both
sides, Straus allegedly hit the victim multiple times, causing her
to fall before Straus left in his vehicle.
Later, the confrontation between the two continued at Straus’
apartment, where the fighter allegedly stabbed the victim in the
abdomen with an unknown sharp object. Straus briefly followed the
woman as she fled before returning to his apartment. The woman then
drove to a neighbor’s house and was transported to a local
hospital. According to the affadavit, the alleged victim had a
contusion on her right eye and a puncture wound on her lower right
abdomen. The woman is expected to press charges against Straus
after initially being reluctant to do so. A warrant for Straus’
arrest was drafted on Jan. 28.
Sherdog.com confirmed with a Bellator official on Monday that
Straus remains on the promotion’s roster. The 36-year-old
Cincinnati, Ohio, native, hasn’t competed since losing a unanimous
decision to Derek
Campos as part of the featherweight grand prix in September
2019.
“Bellator is aware of the situation and has been in contact with
his team,” read a statement from the promotion. “The organization
has no additional comment at this time.”
Straus was previously
arrested in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, in 2013 on four charges:
driving with a suspended license, possession of more than 20 grams
of cannabis, possession of MDMA (ecstasy) and possession of drug
paraphernalia. Straus also revealed in an interview with
ESPN that he spent three years in prison from 2004 to 2007
after being arrested on robbery charges.
Straus has only fought twice since being
hospitalized due to a motorcyle accident in December 2017. He
captured featherweight gold in 2013 with a five-round verdict over
Pat
Curran at Bellator 106 and later regained the belt with a
decision triumph against Patricio
Freire at Bellator 145 in November 2015. The Sanford MMA
representative owns a 26-9 mark since beginning his pro career in
2009.
Note: This item was updated at approximately 10 p.m. ET to
include additional information.