A CAGE fighter was left with a fractured jaw after a Facebook argument spiralled out of control.

Luke Self and two other men “bundled into a car” and drove to confront MMA fighter Caidan Emsley.

The athlete was hit over the head with a golf club from behind and then kicked and punched while on the ground, a court heart.

Caidan “staggered away” from the scene of the fight at Fordingbridge roundabout and was found lying nearby by police on the night of January 5 last year.

Self, 25, of Elm Crescent, Hythe, had been drinking since lunch time when a dispute erupted on Facebook between him and Caidan about Foster’s lager being a “women’s beer”.

Details of the incident were revealed when the father-to-be appeared at Southampton Crown Court for sentencing.

He had previously been convicted by a jury of grievous bodily harm following a trial at the same court.

The court heard when he was interviewed by police ten days after the attack he denied all knowledge of it.

Mr Recorder Richard Onslow slammed him for his “stupid lies”.

Self has no previous convictions and had been of good character.

Defending, Tom Horder, argued that Caidan had threatened Self and his family over Facebook. He added that his client plays an important role in his father’s car recovery business and that his girlfriend is expecting a child.

Mr Horder added that Self had been egged on by his friends - neither of who were convicted for their involvement.

During sentencing, Recorder Onslow said that Self’s offence crossed the custody threshold.

However, he mentioned the prospect for rehabilitation and how Self’s father and girlfriend were dependant on him.

He jailed him for two years, suspended for two years. Self was ordered to complete 150 hours of unpaid work, 30 days of rehabilitation.

He must also pay his victim £1,000 in compensation.