Unlike other sports promoters, UFC head honcho Dana White’s loyalty plays a major role in earning his support within the promotion. The journey of fighters like UFC veteran Tim Means, who is currently in the twilight of his career highlights this. Despite suffering multiple losses, White hasn’t hesitated to offer “The Dirty Bird” back-to-back fights.

Means began his journey with the promotion over a decade ago, and few could have imagined that, at 40 years old, he’d still be fighting in the UFC. While there’s a lot to discuss about Tim Means’ fighting career, many fans are curious to know where the fighter is from! So, without further delay, let’s dive into it.

What is Tim Means’ ethnicity and nationality?

Tim Means was born in Wilburton, Oklahoma, but due to personal reasons, he later moved to New Mexico, where he was raised. It was in New Mexico that he found the motivation as a child to get into mixed martial arts. He used it as an outlet to cope with his struggles and find peace through fighting, constructively channeling his energy.

In a 2012 interview, Means reflected on his turbulent childhood, recalling, “Started out as a kid that wanted to fight. I needed a way to vent my anger because I was fighting in school. I never did well with bullying, and I was one of those kids who would fight at the drop of a hat. I really wanted to find a way to mold that and one day, I opened the phone book.”

Though troubled, the Oklahoma native was eventually taken under the wings of Tom and Arlene Vaughn, who guided him on this fighting path. But this was just the beginning of the greater challenges that awaited Means, ones that would shape the rest of his life and career.

More about Tim Means’ early life

Coach Tom and Arlene Vaughn’s hard work finally paid off in 2004 when Tim Means, after winning two out of three amateur MMA fights, successfully transitioned into professional MMA. “The Dirty Bird” lived up to his reputation, collecting two consecutive wins in his first two fights. Riding high on his sudden success, he found himself in a dangerous situation that would change his life.

One night, a bar brawl escalated into a shootout. Recalling that incident, Means stated, “Usually I would have left the situation, but I felt like Superman that night. Later, we walked outside, and I guess the guy called his cousin, who then sh*t 15 rounds at us. I’m lucky to only get hit once in the leg.”

The real problem arose after the horrifying incident when doctors prescribed Means Vicodin and Morphine to cope with the gunshot wound. This eventually led him down a dark path of addiction. He began experimenting with methamphetamine, which spiraled into more substance abuse. Reflecting on his downward spiral, “The Dirty Bird” admitted, “I started doing c*c*ine and m*th to get my fix. I didn’t know much about m*th at the time, but it made me feel really good like I was on top of the world.” His drug abuse led him deeper into criminal activities to fuel his addiction. However, not too late, Tim Means had a moment of self-reflection.

He recollected who he was and what he wanted to become. Determined to change, he decided to turn himself in, serving time until 2009. After his release, “The Dirty Bird” emerged as a completely transformed man, leaving his troubled past behind. Now all eyes are on UFC 307, which is scheduled for this week, where Tim Means will try to bounce back against Court McGee. Who will you be rooting for—McGee or Means? Drop your opinion below.