Phil Baroni is looking at a lifetime behind bars after he was arrested for allegedly murdering his girlfriend.
The UFC veteran was arrested Sunday in San Pancho, a town in the state of Nayarit in Mexico, after he contacted Policía Estatal Turística and informed them that his girlfriend, Paola, was unconscious in their room at the Jardín San Pancho Hotel.
Local news outlet Tribuna de la Bahia stated authorities discovered Paola naked, laying in bed, and covered with a blanket. She appeared to have been hit multiple times as she had bruises on her face and body. She had no vital signs when police arrived.
Baroni told authorities that he and Paola were both smoking weed and drinking beer when she revealed that she’d had an affair with another man. That caused a reaction from Baroni who told Paola to get in the shower. After she refused, he allegedly grabbed her and threw her into the shower where she hit her forehead and then fell back hitting her head again.
Once he helped her to her feet, he laid her down on the bed. He said he took her clothes off and covered her with a blanket because she said she was cold. A few minutes would pass when he stated she asked him to get her a beer and cigarettes. When he finally came back is when he discovered she was unresponsive as he tried to wake her.
Baroni was arrested and is being held in custody at Juzgado Municipal Administrativo de Valle de Banderas.
Baroni competed professionally in MMA from 2000 to 2019. “The New York Bad Ass” fought for the UFC and Pride FC, but also competed for Bellator, Strikeforce, ONE Championship.
Baroni held an MMA record of 16-19.
