UFC Vet Anthony Rocco Martin Arrested for Punching Security Guard, Urinating in Public

Former Ultimate Fighting Championship competitor Anthony Rocco Martin was arrested in Las Vegas over the weekend on misdemeanor charges of battery and lewd conduct in a public place, according to the Las Vegas Sun.

According to a Metro Police arrest report, Martin was witnessed urinating on the hallway floor at Caesars Palace at about 1:30 a.m. local time on Saturday. Security manager Nathan Wilson and multiple other security guards confronted Martin near the elevators and asked him to leave the property. Martin refused the request and then was unwilling to show identication before threatening security. When Wilson told Martin he was in danger of trespassing and put his hands up to tell him to step back, the UFC veteran punched him in the throat.

After the punch, Martin was taken down to the floor by security and placed in restraints. Police arrived on the scene and observed security footage of Martin urinating and punching Wilson, according to the report. Martin was then transferred into police custody. Martin, who is white, told police he was being racially profiled in the incident.

Martin was released on his own recognizance Saturday, according to court records. A hearing scheduled for Jan. 19, and Martin has retained Nicholas Woolridge as his attorney.

A 31-year-old native of Palos Heights, Ill., Martin hasn’t fought since falling to Neil Magny via unanimous decision at UFC 250 on Jun. 6. That bout was the last fight on his UFC contract, and he has since parted ways with the Las Vegas-based promotion. He underwent knee surgery to repair a torn meniscus following the loss to Magny, and further complications resulted in an infection after the procedure. Martin has since recovered. He went 9-6 during his Octagon tenure and is 17-6 as a professional overall.