A long-serving UFC welterweight fighter, Tim Means, has been apprehended due to grave allegations of child abuse. The accusations stem from his 17-year-old daughter, who contacted law enforcement following a dispute at their home in Tijeras, New Mexico.
According to reports, the disagreement, initially about household tidiness, escalated into a physical confrontation. Court documents indicate that the daughter reported Means became aggressive, headbutting her and causing a nosebleed. Further allegations suggest he grabbed her by the throat, threw a potato at her face, and struck her head with a closed fist when she attempted to defend herself.
The complaint allegedly noted visible marks on the teenager’s neck consistent with strangulation, as well as signs of trauma around her nose and face, including bleeding and red marks.
Means was released on his own recognizance on Friday, with the charge of abandonment or abuse of a child remaining an active case. The fighter last appeared in the UFC at UFC 307 in October 2024, where he lost via submission in the first round. Currently, Means also works as a wrestling coach at Moriarty High School.
English Translation:
A seasoned UFC welterweight fighter has found himself in significant legal trouble following disturbing allegations.
According to a report from KOAT Action News, UFC fighter Tim Means was arrested Tuesday night in Tijeras, New Mexico, on a charge of abandonment or abuse of a child. The report states that his 17-year-old daughter contacted law enforcement after a verbal dispute over household cleanliness escalated.
As per Bernalillo County Metropolitan Court records, the unnamed teenage girl reported that the argument turned physical, claiming Means became aggressive and headbutted her, resulting in a nosebleed.
The report further states that “The Dirty Bird” allegedly grabbed her by the throat, threw a potato at her face, and, when she tried to defend herself, struck her in the head with a closed fist.
The complaint reportedly noted visible hand and red marks on the teenager’s neck consistent with strangulation, along with blood in and around her nose from the alleged headbutt, and multiple red marks on her face and cheek indicating she had been struck.
Means was released Friday on his own recognizance (ROR), with court records indicating the charge remains listed as an open count.
Tim Means last competed at UFC 307 in October 2024, where he suffered a first-round submission loss to Court McGee. “The Dirty Bird,” who now works as a wrestling coach at Moriarty High School, has struggled for form, going 1–5 in his last six UFC appearances.
Means is among the longest-tenured fighters on the UFC welterweight roster, with 30 fights to his name, holding a record of 15–14 with one no contest across two separate runs with the promotion. He currently holds a professional record of 33–17–1 with one no contest, and owns notable wins over fighters such as Andre Fialho, Mike Perry, and Thiago Alves.
