Former UFC heavyweight Cody East arrested on domestic violence charges

A former UFC fighter was arrested on domestic violence charges Sunday.

Cody East, recently released by the promotion, was taken into custody in Albuquerque, N.M., on three separate charges: aggravated battery against a household member, false imprisonment, and aggravated assault against a household member, per jail records.

He was being held at the Bernalillo County Metropolitan Detention Center on $30,000 bail as of Sunday night.

The news was first reported by KRQE.

East, 28, has a long rap sheet, including being sentenced to three years in prison on child abuse charges in 2008. His probation finished up in 2015, per KRQE. East was arrested in 2006 and 2010 on domestic violence charges, but prosecutors didn't pursue the cases either time. He has also been arrested twice on sexual assault charges.

The UFC faced criticism for signing East following his appearance on UFC president Dana White's "Lookin' for a Fight" show due to his long criminal record. In a statement in February, the UFC told Bloody Elbow that it "felt comfortable" signing East despite past transgressions after an "independent investigation."

East (12-3) went 0-2 in the UFC, most recently falling by second-round TKO to Curtis Blaydes in October. In his UFC debut, the Los Lunas, N.M., native lost to first-round TKO to Walt Harris at UFC 197 back in April.