UFC, Pride Veteran Phil Baroni Charged with Aggravated Femicide in Mexico

Phil Baroni, a veteran of 35 mixed martial arts bouts, has been charged with aggravated femicide in connection with the death of his girlfriend in Mexico on Jan. 1.

The 46-year-old Baroni, who was arrested last week, was charged by a state judge in Mexico on Monday, according to ESPN.

According to a release from the general prosecutor of the State of Nayarit Office, Baroni assaulted the woman and caused “at least 37 injuries” that resulted in her death. Baroni contacted police on Jan. 1 after finding his girlfriend unresponsive. When speaking to authorities, the former fighter claimed that the woman hit her head when he shoved her into the shower during an argument.

Baroni could face 30 to 50 years in prison if he is convicted, per Nayarit penal code. The man known as “The New York Badass” was advised by a public defendant and will be held at Venustiano Carranza State Jail until the trial begins sometime in the next six months. Baroni had reportedly been living in a coastal region of Bahia de Banderas, Nayarit, Mexico, at the time of the alleged crime.

Baroni went 16-19 over the course of professional MMA career that saw him compete for organizations such as the UFC, Bellator, Strikeforce, Pride and One Championship. More recently, he won a boxing match in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, in December 2021.