Former UFC competitor War Machine received a life sentence on Tuesday, with the possibility of parole after 36 years, for assaulting his ex-girlfriend and a companion of hers. The 35-year-old went by his birth name, Jonathan Koppenhaver, during his trial, which took place in March and ended with him being convicted on 29 of 34 charges, including sexual assault and kidnapping.

The ruling by Clark County (Nevada) District Court judge Elissa Cadish, means that Koppenhaver will be 71 before he can have his first parole hearing. Koppenhaver's ex-girlfriend, former porn actress Christy Mack, had testified that his violence against her increased over the course of their 15-month relationship, culminating in an August 2014 attack which left her with a fractured eye socket, a broken nose, missing teeth, leg injuries and a lacerated liver.

Sentenced: Former mixed martial arts fighter Jonathan Koppenhaver, aka War Machine. Credit:AP

Mack, whose real name is Christine Mackinday, spoke at the sentencing hearing and told the court that she was afraid Koppenhaver, if he did not get a lengthy term, would kill her when he got out of jail. She had cited death threats he made against her during his trial, which also featured testimony from Corey Thomas, the man prosecutors said she was with when the ex-MMA star burst in on them.

"I would really like to say to everyone that they can trust in the justice system," Mackinday told MMA Fighting.