UFC Fighter Arrested on Child Abuse Allegations

UFC veteran Tim Means was arrested and subsequently released after being charged with felony child abuse. The long-time UFC fighter was taken into custody on April 21st on child abuse charges. He made his initial court appearance on Friday before being released.

Online records indicate Means was booked on Wednesday and held at the Metropolitan Detention Center. He was released on Friday, with his next court date yet to be scheduled. Currently, he faces one felony count of child abuse.

The criminal complaint against Means was not immediately available, but the Albuquerque Journal revealed details of the arrest following the charges being filed.

According to the report, Means was arrested on April 10th after police responded to a domestic dispute. The call was made by his daughter, who informed police that she and her father, identified as Means, had argued over household chores.

The victim told police that during the argument, Means headbutted her in the nose, after which she pushed him away. The dispute escalated, with Means allegedly grabbing the teenager by the neck "in a choking manner" and pressing her against the kitchen counter.

The situation continued to escalate, with the victim telling police that Means threw a potato at her, hitting her in the face. When she resisted, pushing and hitting Means to get away, the fighter allegedly punched her on the right side of her face.

The police complaint detailed that the teenager's neck showed "visible hand marks and redness, indicating she had been choked. There was blood on and in her nose where she had been headbutted, as well as several red spots suggesting she had been struck on the face and cheek."

Means was arrested and taken into police custody.

The 42-year-old fighter has been part of the UFC for the past 12 years, competing primarily in the welterweight division. His last UFC fight was in 2024, where he suffered his second consecutive loss in the organization, being defeated by submission to Court McGee in the first round.