Retired MMA fighter charged with assaulting girlfriend

STONEHAM, Mass. — A Stoneham man is accused of assaulting and strangling a household or family member, according to Malden police.

James Armato, 27, was arraigned in Malden District Court on strangulation, attempted murder, and assault and battery on a family member, assault, and resisting arrest Monday.

The family of Gina Antonelli says she was the victim. The family claims her boyfriend, James Armato, a retired MMA fighter, severely beat her over the weekend.

>>READ MORE: READ MORE Resources for victims of domestic violence here.

According to court documents, the couple was on a party bus in Boston celebrating Antonelli's birthday. While they were driving home, the two got into a fight and Armato began choking Antonelli while she was driving, causing her to black out and crash the car.

Eyewitnesses saw the crash and called 911. When the Malden Fire Department arrived, they found Armato choking Antonelli.

Armato allegedly also tried to fight a Malden firefighter during the incident.

Her sisters set up a GoFundMe page to support Antonelli.

“She woke up to the horrifying reality that this MMA trained fighter was still continuously punching her and strangling her,” the GoFundMe page says.

The District Attorney’s Office said Judge Mary Lee Johnson has ordered Armato to be held without bail.

There was no comment at Armato's family home in Stoneham or at the L.A Fitness in Saugus where he recently worked.

Armato has a similar arrest from 2013 for similar behavior towards a different woman.

Cox Media Group