Chad Johnson has finally accepted the fact that his marriage to Evelyn Lozada is over ... and has filed divorce docs in which he admits the union is "irretrievably broken" ... TMZ has learned.

Johnson filed the papers yesterday in a Florida court ... in response to the docs Evelyn filed back on August 14. In his papers, Chad admits the two have a prenup that he believes should be enforced -- especially the part about who pays for the lawyers.

According to the docs, Johnson wants a judge to BLOCK Evelyn's request that Chad foot the bill for her legal fees ... citing a provision in the prenup in which the two sides agreed to pay their own way if they were to split up.

The divorce has not been finalized yet ... but at this point, it's only a matter of time ... and sources close to Evelyn tell us she's "ecstatic" and ready to move on.

Evelyn and Chad were married back in July ... but the honeymoon ended a month later, when Chad allegedly headbutted Evelyn during a heated argument over a condom receipt she found in his car.

Chad Johnson insists he's no wife beater ... and entered a "not guilty" plea to misdemeanor battery this morning for the alleged attack on his wife Evelyn Lozada last month.

TMZ broke the story, Chad was charged with domestic battery yesterday following his arrest in Florida on August 11th.

According to Chad's wife, the former NFL player headbutted her during a massive argument that erupted after Evelyn found a condom receipt in Chad's car. If convicted, Johnson faces up to a year in jail.

Evelyn has since filed for divorce.

Chad's attorney entered the football star's plea in Broward County Court this morning. Chad was not there.

Chad Johnson has officially been charged with misdemeanor battery after allegedly headbutting his wife Evelyn Lozada during a nuclear argument last month, this according to the State Attorney for Broward County, Florida.

If convicted, Chad faces up to a year in jail.

As we reported, Chad was arrested for domestic violence in Florida on August 11th after a fight over a condom receipt allegedly turned violent. Evelyn told police Chad headbutted her.

At the time of the fight, Evelyn and Chad had barely been married a month. Evelyn has since filed for divorce, claiming their marriage had become "irretrievably broken."

Chad is refusing to sign any divorce papers, insisting he's still in love with her. 

Chad was also dropped from the Miami Dolphins following his arrest. He's now a free agent.

Chad Johnson DESPERATELY wants to stay married to his estranged wife Evelyn Lozada, so much so he's refusing to sign any divorce docs ... this according to sources close to the couple.

As TMZ first reported, Evelyn filed for divorce three days after Chad allegedly head-butted her during an argument. The incident that led to his arrest and Evelyn receiving stitches.

Sources close to Chad tell TMZ ... he won't sign the docs or partake in any divorce proceedings because he doesn't want to get a divorce. We're told Chad still believes he can win Evelyn back ... as evidenced by the fact he recently tattooed her face on his leg.

But Chad's plan isn't exactly bulletproof  -- under Florida law (where Evelyn filed the docs) the divorce can still be finalized with a judge's approval.

Sources tell us Evelyn is hellbent on making this divorce happen and nothing Chad does will get her back. We're told she's ready to move on and rebuild her life.

Calls to both parties' lawyers were not returned.

Chad Johnson desperately wants to let Evelyn Lozada know he still cares about her ... so he went out and got an image of her FACE tattooed on his right leg with the name "Eve" underneath it.

Johnson posted the photo on his Twitter page today ... the image is his new profile pic featured at the top of his page. It's unclear if the tat is real ... or of the temporary variety. Sources tell us Chad got the work done this past weekend.

Either way, Chad may not be getting his money's worth from the ink -- sources close to Evelyn say she still feels strongly about divorcing Johnson ... and she's made it clear to friends she will NOT be getting back together with the former NFL star.

As we previously reported, Evelyn filed for divorce last month ... three days after Chad allegedly headbutted her during a heated argument.

Chad was arrested for domestic violence over the incident -- but officials are still deciding whether or not charges will be filed against him.

A rep for Chad had no comment on the story.

Evelyn Lozada says despite his arrest for allegedly head-butting her, she still loves estranged husband Chad Johnson -- but adds she can't imagine speaking to him any time soon.

In an interview with "Nightline" that airs tonight, Lozada described the alleged domestic violence incident as "a bad choice that destroyed his life ... But it was his choice, it wasn't mine."

Lozada said she hopes Chad is getting help and she wants "the best for him," but says that being apart is "the right thing."

Johnson is expected to be arraigned in September. Evelyn filed for divorce 2 days after his arrest.

Chad Johnson's estranged wife Evelyn Lozada has cut herself off entirely from her husband -- telling TMZ, she hasn't spoken a word to the former NFL star since he allegedly headbutted her earlier this month.

Evelyn was out in NYC this morning when we asked if she has had any contact with Chad since the August 11th incident -- when Chad was busted for domestic violence -- and Evelyn replied, "No."

It's the first time Evelyn's spoken a word in public following that fateful night. She has since filed for divorce.

As we reported, Evelyn was scheduled to do her first interview with Robin Roberts on "Good Morning America" -- but Robin had to pull out for health reasons. Evelyn's interview will now be conducted by Amy Robach.

Robin Roberts was forced to back out of the first interview with Chad Johnson's estranged wife Evelyn Lozada since he allegedly attacked her earlier this month -- and TMZ has learned, it's due to Robin's health crisis.

Sources tell us ... Evelyn agreed to sit down with Robin on "Good Morning America" to discuss the Aug. 11 domestic violence incident -- because she feels Roberts has tremendous integrity as a reporter.

The interview was set for this week, but hit a snag when Lozada asked Robin to tape the segment at her hotel ... since Evelyn wanted a private setting for such a serious conversation.

We're told Roberts couldn't make that happen because she would have to miss a treatment session for her blood disorder ... myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS).

As we reported, Roberts is scheduled to start a leave of absence this Friday to receive a bone marrow transplant.

We're told Amy Robach is stepping in for Robin, but Evelyn's more than happy with the replacement.

Chad Johnson's estranged wife Evelyn Lozada -- whom the ex-NFL player allegedly headbutted during a nuclear argument this month -- is showing her face for the first time since the incident ... and TMZ has the pics.

The photos were snapped this week in Florida -- on a beach near the friend's house where Evelyn fled following the alleged domestic violence incident on August 11th.

You can't see the injuries -- we're told Evelyn refuses to leave the house without a hat -- but according to sources, a laceration on her forehead required several stitches.

Since the photos were taken, we're told Evelyn has left for Barbados with her daughter to escape media scrutiny -- and is anxious to put everything behind her.

As we first reported, Evelyn filed for divorce last week, claiming her marriage was "irretrievably broken."

Chad Johnson's college girlfriend -- whom the ex-NFL player was convicted of slapping in 2000 -- wants a pow wow with Chad's latest alleged battery victim ... his wife ... and TMZ has learned, it's all in an effort to find closure.

Sources close to the former girlfriend tell TMZ, the woman has been attempting to reach out to Chad's wife Evelyn Lozada on Twitter and Facebook -- ever since news broke last weekend that Chad had allegedly attacked her.

We're told the ex-GF believes she and Evelyn have a lot to talk about and can help each other heal in the process.

According to our sources, the GF has had no luck in reaching Evelyn thus far..

And how's this for irony ... TMZ has obtained Chad Johnson's certificate of completion from a domestic violence batterers' treatment program back in 2002, following his domestic battery conviction.


According to a status report from the program, Chad was cooperative and appeared to make good progress -- but "struggled initially with accepting the need to make lifestyle changes as well as minimizing his past behavior."

The report says Chad eventually came to terms with his problems -- and his "risk to re-offend appears low."

Low, indeed.

"Basketball Wives" star Evelyn Lozada is not ready to face the public following her brutal break-up with unemployed NFLer Chad Johnson ... so she cancelled all her upcoming public appearances, TMZ has learned

Sources tell TMZ ... Evelyn had several gigs lined up -- including the second half of her book tour for "The Wives Association: Inner Circle," as well as various club gigs and a book expo in September where she was supposed to appear alongside "Real Housewives of New Jersey" star Teresa Giudice.

But we're told Evelyn is not ready to deal with the questions the public will ask regarding the domestic violence incident and divorce ... so she pulled the plug on all the engagements.

As TMZ first reported, Evelyn filed for divorce just days after Chad was arrested for allegedly head-butting her during a argument.