UFC veteran Phil Baroni charged with murder in girlfriend's death

Former Ultimate Fighting Championship veteran Phil Baroni has been charged with murder in the death of his girlfriend according to a report by Tribuna De La Bahia.

The former mixed martial artist and boxer was in San Pancho, Mexico, where he was arrested and charged with murder. According to the report, Baroni had a falling out with his girlfriend after he revealed she cheated on him. Baroni then allegedly threw her in the shower after she refused to take one, causing her to fall and hit her head. Baroni claims he helped her back to bed, then left the room to get her cigarettes and beer at her request. When he returned to the room, the woman was unconscious.

Baroni alerted the police, who found his girlfriend lying naked on the bed covered by a sheet with no vital signs. Bruises on her face and body indicate she was assaulted. An autopsy will take place to determine the cause of death.

Known as "New York Bad Ass", Baroni was a fan-favorite fighter due to his action-packed style and loud personality. In the end, Baroni left the sport with a lackluster 16-19 record, having gone 3-6 inside the Octagon. The 49-year-old last fought in mixed martial arts in 2019, although he boxed professionally in 2021. Baroni has also had several professional wrestling matches, including a match for Game Changer Wrestling at Josh Barnett's Bloodsport in 2019.