Sherdog’s Top 10: MMA Scandals

10. The Rafiel Torre Murder

Torre had one professional MMA fight, winning by kneebar inside the King of the Cage promotion. His career was over almost as soon as it began, as the Californian was convicted of murdering Bryan Richards in 2001. Richards was the husband of Torre’s former mistress.

A 12-person jury found Torre guilty of murder via rear-naked choke. Richards’ body was discovered in the bed of his pickup truck, covered in trash bags and wheeled dollies. During the trial, Torre claimed that his girlfriend, Angelina Richards, committed the crime and that he merely helped her cover it up, hoping to cash in on her husband’s $1 million life insurance policy. The jury did not buy his claims. Torre was convicted and sentenced to life in prison with no possibility of parole. Former UFC fighter Gerald Strebendt was a key witness at the trial, as he testified that Torre had offered him $10,000 to kill Richards.

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