by Adam Josephson
UFC fighter Casey Kenney was arrested recently in connection with a domestic violence incident that took place last month. According to records from the Maricopa County Superior Court, Kenney is facing six charges, including felony kidnapping and aggravated assault, stemming from an incident on July 21. He was arrested on August 16 and has since been released. A status conference is scheduled for Thursday, with a preliminary hearing set for August 26.
The incident came to public attention when the alleged victim’s mother shared details on Instagram. A probable cause statement obtained by MMAFighting.com reveals that Kenney allegedly committed kidnapping and aggravated assault by strangulation against Jasmine Mendez. The statement details that Kenney repeatedly struck, slapped, bit, headbutted, and choked Mendez for several hours.
The statement reads:
“Between approximately 11:00 p.m. on July 21, 2024, and 12:14 a.m. on July 22, 2024, at a residence located at [address redacted], [suspect] Casey Kenney committed kidnapping, aggravated assault by strangulation, and assault against [victim] Jasmine Mendez. The assault involved repeatedly striking, slapping, biting, headbutting, and choking the victim, resulting in abrasions to her lip, discoloration on her arms, and petechiae on her neck.”
The statement also mentions that during the 13-hour ordeal, Mendez was unable to escape the residence as Kenney continually restrained her and threatened further violence. Kenney allegedly threatened to shoot anyone who arrived at the residence, including Mendez’s mother. Mendez has expressed her desire to pursue prosecution.
Kenney, 33, has not competed in MMA since August 2021, when he lost a split decision to Yadong Song at UFC 265. The former Legacy Fighting Alliance champion has a UFC record of 5-3, with his career in the organization beginning in March 2019.
