UFC contestant arrested in attack on hospital nurses

A UFC fighter who was featured on a Spike TV show last year was arrested Tuesday night and accused of assaulting three nurses at St. Rose Dominican Hospital, Siena campus, according to Henderson police.

Junie Browning, 24, was taken to the hospital by two friends after he took 16 Klonopin pills, an anti-anxiety drug, in an attempt to harm himself, police said in an arrest report.

After being taken to a hospital room, the Ultimate Fighting Championship fighter tried to leave, became angry and pushed a female nurse. He put up his fists, and as a 38-year-old male nurse tried to calm him, he punched the man on the left side of his face, the report said. The male nurse grabbed Browning and the two fell onto a bed. Browning sustained a cut to his forehead.

"Do you know who I am? I will kill you and rape your family," police said Browning yelled at nurses.

The mixed martial arts fighter was one of the cast members last year on Spike's "The Ultimate Fighter: Team Nogueira vs. Team Mir." Nicknamed "The Lunatic," Browning is one of the more notorious cast members in the show's 10-season run. UFC president Dana White allowed Browning to remain on the show despite several confrontations with castmates that were often fueled by alcohol.

Browning isn't getting another pass. White confirmed the UFC released Browning from his contract on Wednesday.

"We saw on the (show) that this kid's got some issues. That wasn't acting," White said. "I'm really bummed to hear this. I hope that he gets some help."

Browning faces three counts of battery on a health care provider, according to his arrest report. The charges are gross misdemeanors. He was booked at the Henderson Detention Center, where he was released today.

Reporter Adam Hill contributed to this report. Contact reporter Lawrence Mower at lmower@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0440.