WSOF cuts ties with fighter sporting Neo-Nazi tattoos, criminal background

WSOF fighter Dustin Holyko has been released by the promotion following a story that revealed his criminal history and tattoos associated with Neo-Nazis.

“Honestly, we were not aware of Dustin Holyko’s criminal record or any potentially offensive tattoos prior to him competing at WSOF 11,” read a statement provided to MMAjunkie by its legal department. “He was licensed by the Florida commission prior to the fight, and it was his third professional fight under their jurisdiction. That said, with the information that has since come to light, we immediately elected to terminate our relationship with Mr. Holyko.”

“We were unaware of the offensive tattoos prior to his fight,” read a separate statement provided by a PR rep. “WSOF does not and will not tolerate or condone such tattoos or hate-fueled beliefs.”

Holyko (2-1) was submitted by Neiman Gracie (2-0) in a 175-pound catchweight bout on the preliminary-card of this past Saturday’s WSOF 11, which took place at Ocean Center in Daytona, Fla. The bout streamed on MMAjunkie, but a replay later aired on the event’s NBC-televised main card.

When contacted for comment, Holyko wasn’t yet aware of his release from the WSOF but said he wouldn’t contest the move and would continue his career as a fighter. He noted he was signed on short notice as a local fighter to help bolster ticket sales.

“I make plenty of money,” he said. “I’m cool with it or without it. I’d love to have the opportunity, but if not, I’m still going to do me.”

A report from BloodyElbow.com initially detailed several criminal charges filed against Holyko, including domestic violence, animal cruelty, felony battery domestic violence and domestic battery by strangulation. Additionally, the report includes pictures of the fighter that display tattoos associated with white supremacist groups, including the iron cross, Nazi “SS” lightning bolt, and the words “white” and “pride” on his arms.

MMAjunkie verified the charges via clerk and inmate records in Volusia County (Fla.) and the Florida Department of Corrections. The fighter served over two years in jail for robbery with a non-deadly weapon and is currently on probation for the offense. His probation history also lists an “escape” in late 2012.

Several domestic violence charges were dismissed, according to court records.

In an interview, Holyko addressed several of the charges in his criminal history and his tattoos. He admitted that he is “proud” to be white, but denied being a Neo-Nazi.

“When I was 18, I went to prison, and I got white pride tattooed on my arms because prison is pretty racially separated,” he said. “I am proud of my race, but I’m not racist or any kind of Nazi.

“One of my trainers, Mike Vasquez, he’s Puerto Rican and Spanish, and he’s like a dad to me. A lot of my training partners and friends are from different races. I have not a racist bone in my body at all.”

On the long list of charges on his record, Holyko said he has “a crazy past” associated with growing up on the streets, but he claims to have turned his life around.

He explained one domestic battery charge as the result of a fight between an ex and a recent girlfriend.

“The cops came, and somehow, I ended up going to jail for it,” he said. “I never laid a finger on anybody, and that’s where the whole domestic thing comes from.”

He said the animal cruelty charge came after an incident involving his and a neighbor’s pit bull. During a scuffle between the dogs, he said the neighbor hurt his dog while trying to break it up, and he punched him to stop the fight.

“We got in a big fight, (and other neighbors from the same house) actually jumped me and beat me up pretty good,” Holyko said. “That night, I get charged with animal cruelty, and I got three battery charges.

“In the process of everything going, the girl that I was with got hit; she was trying to break everything up. Never once told the cops, ‘He hit me.’ She didn’t know how she got hit; somehow she got elbowed trying to break up the fight and get everybody off of me. And they charged me with domestic violence. All the charges got dropped, too.”

He said the “escape” charge listed on his parole history came after he got into a drunken brawl on the beach in Daytona and walked away from a police car while still in cuffs.

“I was trying to be funny,” he said. “There was some chicks there, and a couple of my buddies. They sat us on the curb when they were doing their reports, and they weren’t paying attention. So (my friends) were like, ‘C’mon.’ It was kind of a joke. I got out, walked away, and I tried to hang out in the clubs with handcuffs on; we were all laughing. Next thing I know, the cops catch up to me, slam me on the ground and bring me back. They charged me with a misdemeanor, but the state attorney got ahold of it and jacked it up to a second-degree escape charges, which I could have done 15 years over that.”

Holyko said the incident prompted him to quit drinking, and he said he now lives a far more peaceful life as the owner of a tree-cutting business.

“I’ve got two beautiful kids, a beautiful girlfriend, a beautiful home on three acres with a swimming pool,” he said. “If you saw my house, you’d think I’m a lawyer. I work really hard.”

Asked whether the laundry list of apparent red flags were all merely misunderstandings or a reflection of a serious problem, Holyko said, “I’d like to sit here and make excuses here and there, but I did what I did. I made a lot of mistakes. I was a dumb kid. Until a few years ago, I turned my life around. I’m still not perfect.

“I’m sure everybody out there has probably has drank a little too much and done something stupid. The ones that don’t change and keep doing it, those are the ones that are just dumb. I changed my life around.”

In an interview Monday afternoon, WSOF matchmaker Ali Abdelaziz said he understood that people make mistakes in life, but could not forgive the issues brought to the forefront by Holyko’s tattoos.

“I’m from a different ethnic background, and we do not tolerate this kind of behavior at all,” he said. “He was on a one-fight deal. He’s a local kid that a local promoter recommended to us. I or (WSOF President) Ray (Sefo) had no idea.

“We don’t do background checks on people. But if something comes up, and it’s something we need to know about, I believe us and the media are all part of the team. If the guy who wrote the story knew about the information, he should have told us before the fight. I know it’s not his job, but to protect our sport and grow, if anybody has information about this kind of behavior, they should let us know. We don’t tolerate this; we had no idea this kid had this behavior or a tattoo or an affiliation, but he will never fight for the WSOF again. It’s embarrassing, and that will never happen again.”

For more on the WSOF’s upcoming schedule, check out the MMA Rumors section of the site.