Tattoos linked to Neo-Nazi culture and a criminal record have prompted the Ohio Athletic Commission to launch a "full investigation" into fighter Brandon Saling.

Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker made the announcement at the post-event press conference for "Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey," which took place Saturday at Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio.

"We had no knowledge about that until someone brought it up to us this evening," Coker said of Saling's background. "It came to our attention during the course of the fights."

Saling fought Roger Bowling on the event's preliminary card, which aired live on Showtime Extreme, and lost via second-round TKO.

Coker noted that Saling is licensed as a professional fighter in Ohio and several other states.

"They're going to launch a full investigation on Monday," he said. "So that's where that's at. As far as you guys know, the policy for Strikeforce and the UFC is that kind of body art, offensive behavior, (and) offensive art is not going to be allowed.

"So that's something we went to the athlete (with). He responded, and we're going to investigate further and see what the truth is."

Coker declined to provide details of his conversation with the fighter and said Strikeforce would inform the media of the investigation's outcome.

OAC Executive Director Bernie Profato confirmed early Sunday with MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) that he's contacted the Ohio Attorney General's Office, which will look into the allegations on Monday. He said Saling, who recently renewed his license, will be also notified that his license could potentially be suspended and will have the opportunity to defend himself as an individual or accompanied by legal representatives at an OAC meeting in April.

"We're not going to speculate until we have facts," Profato said. "He's innocent until proven guilty."

Profato said Ohio licensees are required to disclose any criminal background but was unaware of whether Saling noted any past offenses.

"If it's on his application and we missed it, we apologize," he said.

Saling, who bears a tattoo of his nickname, "White Steel," across his torso, carries an 8-6 record and hadn't fought for Strikeforce prior to Saturday. He fought twice for the Ohio-based NAAFS promotion in January and February, winning both professional bouts.

I may be a sadist but Tate's face somehow makes it enjoyable, but mostly because of the armbar

Amazingly, Miesha Tate didn't suffer any broken bones in her left arm following Saturday night's gruesome loss via armbar to Ronda Rousey.

"I had X-Rays last night," Tate told MMAFighting.com via text message. "No bones are broken, which I already knew. Other than that, I have to get an MRI to find out anything further."

Tate, the now former Strikeforce bantamweight champion, wouldn't elaborate on when she'll find out what kind of shape her arm is in and when she'll back to 100 percent. According to a Strikeforce official Saturday night, the early thought was that she had at least damaged ligaments in her arm.

Rousey submitted Tate via armbar at 4:27 of the first round but only after Tate refused to tap for several seconds, which led to her arm seemingly bending backwards. A similar scenario played out in the first minute of the fight, but Tate was able to escape that submission attempt.

Following the tapout, Tate remained on the canvas for several seconds and was unable to move her left arm in the cage after the fight.

The win improved Rousey's professional record to 5-0, with all five wins coming via first-round armbar. Tate's record dropped to 12-3.

In addition to Tate (left elbow), Souza (possibly broken hand), Bowling (possibly broken hand) and Heun (possibly broken hand) – who all can be cleared early by a physician to end the indefinite suspension – other suspensions went to:
Kazuo Misaki: Suspended 45 days to due a facial laceration
Alexis Davis: Suspended 30 days to due a facial laceration
Pat Healy: Suspended 30 days to due a head laceration
Brandon Saling: Suspended 30 days for precautionary reasons

The full "Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey" paydays included:

Ronda Rousey: $32,000 (includes $17,000 win bonus)
def. Miesha Tate: $19,000

Josh Thomson: $80,000 (no win bonus)
def. K.J. Noons: $38,000

Kazuo Misaki: $50,000 (no win bonus)
def. Paul Daley: $45,000

Lumumba Sayers: $10,000 (includes $5,000 win bonus)
Scott Smith: $65,000

Ronaldo Souza: $92,000 (includes $22,000) win bonus)
def. Bristol Marunde: $10,000

Sarah Kaufman: $25,000 (includes $10,000 win bonus)
def. Alexis Davis: $4,000

Roger Bowling: $16,000 (includes $8,000 win bonus)
def. Brandon Saling: $5,000

Pat Healy: $22,500 (includes $5,000 win bonus)
def. Carlos Fodor: $12,000

Ryan Couture: $10,000 (no win bonus)
def. Conor Heun: $8,000

After causing a stir on Saturday at Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey, welterweight Brandon Saling's tenure in Strikeforce was short-lived. It turns out there may also not be much time left in his mixed martial arts career. According to commissioner Bernie Profato of the Ohio Athletic Commission (OAC), Saling's fighter license has been revoked.

Profato told MMA Fighting Saling falsified information on his application for a license by failing to disclose he had "ever been convicted of a crime other than a traffic offense". The ommission puts Saling in violation of Administrative Code 3773-1-09, clause F, of the bylaws governing MMA in Ohio, which states a fighter's license can be suspended or revoked if he or she, "has violated any law with respect to any sports regulated by the commission or any rule or order of the commission or has been convicted of a felony."

Saling is a registered sex offender and was convicted of "gross sexual imposition", a felony, in 2004 in the state of Ohio.

Saling most recently fought in Columbus, Ohio at Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey where he lost to Roger Bowling via second-round TKO. His presence at the event disturbed many in the MMA community for his racially-controversial "88" or "Heil Hitler" tattoo on the inside of left collarbone. Upon further inspection of his background, it was revealed Saling was had been convicted of felonious sex crimes.

"Obviously this guy is never going to fight for us again," UFC President Dana White told MMA Fighting's Ariel Helwani. "For this guy to ever get licensed again he'd have to go before a hearing for the athletic commissions and I find it hard to believe that this guy will ever be licensed again. He better go find another job."

Profato states Saling has been notified by certified mail of the commission's decision to revoke his license and that he is entitled to a hearing. Attempts to contact Saling for comment were not immediately returned.

Saling will tentatively have his first opportunity to challenge his license revocation at the next meeting of the OAC on April 11th. Should he choose to challenge their decision, Profato states he'll be able to use the services of an attorney, witnesses, his own testimony and any countervailing evidence that would ostensibly compel the commission to reverse course.

In addition to his license suspension in Ohio, MMA Fighting has confirmed with counsel Nick Lembo of the New Jersey Athletic Control Board (NJSACB) that Saling's license in that state has also been revoked for falsifying information on his license applications. Saling recently fought in New Jersey at Bellator 59 in November of 2011 and Ring of Combat 36 in June of last year.

At the time of this writing, it's not clear what options Saling has in New Jersey to challenge the NJSACB's decision.