UFC fighter arrested after child abuse allegations about daughter

UFC fighter Tim Means was arrested after allegedly punching his teenage daughter in the face during an argument about house chores.

UFC welterweight Means, who also teaches wrestling at Moriarty High School, is accused of head-butting his 17-year-old daughter in the nose before going on to punch her in the face after the pair argued about household chores.

The 42-year-old was booked into the Metropolitan Detention Centre on Wednesday (April 22) and was charged with an open count of child abuse, according to the Albuquerque Journal.

Officers from the Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office were called to the scene in Tijeras around 10pm on April 21.

Means’ 17-year-old daughter reportedly made the call and told police that she had been arguing with her father over chores before he allegedly head-butted her.

The teenager also said that Means allegedly grabbed her by the neck and held her against a counter before grabbing a potato and throwing it at her face.

Tim Means was arrested earlier this week (Credit:Metropolitan Detention Center)

As she tried to leave the property, Means allegedly punched her on the right side of her face.

“Let it be known that there were visible hand and red marks on (the teen’s) neck, indicating she was strangled,” the complaint states. “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.”

Means first fought in the UFC back in 2012, having turned professional eight years earlier in 2004.

The veteran – known as “Dirty Bird” – boasts a record of 33-17-1, with 15 of his victories coming in the UFC, as well as 14 of his defeats.

Means has shared the octagon with notable fighters such as Mike Perry, Kevin Holland, Jorge Masvidal, Alex Morono and Daniel Rodriguez.

Despite still being signed to the promotion, the fighter has not fought since October 2024, when he lost against Court McGee on the undercard of UFC 307 in Salt Lake City.

Means has also boxed as a professional, winning two of his three fights, although he has not competed in the sport since 2011, when he defeated Adrian Lopez by unanimous decision.