UFC star Tim Means has been charged with felony child abuse following an alleged physical altercation with his teenage daughter.
The 42-year-old fighter was taken into custody in Tijeras, New Mexico on Wednesday after his 17-year-old daughter called police to report an assault during an argument over household chores, according to police reports.
According to the criminal complaint filed by the Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office, the teenager alleged that Means headbutted her and grabbed her by the throat in a strangulating manner.
The report further details the teenager’s claim that Means allegedly threw a potato at the girl’s face before striking her in the head with a closed fist when she attempted to defend herself.
‘Let it be known that there were visible hand and red marks on (the teen’s) neck, indicating she was strangled,’ the complaint stated, as reported by the Albuquerque Journal.
‘There was blood on and in her nose where she was head-butted and several red marks indicated she was hit in the face and on her cheek.’Â
UFC star Tim Means has been charged with felony child abuse following a physical altercation with his teenage daughter
The 42-year-old fighter was taken into custody in Tijeras, New Mexico on Wednesday after his 17-year-old daughter called police to report an assault during an argument over chores
The veteran fighter was released Friday on his own recognizance, though court records indicate the case remains an open count of abandonment or abuse of a childÂ
Means reportedly admitted to police that an argument occurred but claimed he only used physical force to restrain his daughter from hitting him.
The veteran fighter was released Friday on his own recognizance, though court records indicate the case remains an open count of abandonment or abuse of a child.
Means is one of the longest-tenured athletes on the UFC roster, having made 30 appearances since his second stint with the company began in 2014. He is also a wrestling coach at Moriarty High School.
His professional record stands at 33-17-1, though his career has slowed recently with five losses in his last six bouts, most recently a defeat to Court McGee in October 2024.
The UFC has not yet released an official statement regarding the arrest or any potential disciplinary action.
With the legal process now unfolding in Bernalillo County, Means faces a felony charge that could impact his eligibility to compete in the Octagon.
