Luis Guel, an amateur mixed martial artist fighting out of Iowa, was allegedly assaulting his pregnant ex-girlfriend last week.
The 27-year-old fighter was arrested by the Burlington Police Department on Sept. 1 and charged with assault with intent to inflict serious injury (aggravated misdemeanor) and domestic abuse assault against a pregnant person-second offense (class D felony).
On Sept. 1, Burlington police were called to a residence on the 400 block of Jefferson Street for a domestic disturbance.
When they arrived, they spoke with a woman who stated that she was six months pregnant with Guel’s child and that, earlier in the night, Guel had come to her home and assaulted her, according to a criminal complaint.
The woman told police the two had been in a relationship for approximately 11 months but had broken up six months prior to the incident, the complaint states.
Earlier in the evening, the woman stated that Guel had called her and said he was going to come to her home and assault her, according to the complaint.
The woman told police she was laying in her bed when she heard her front door open and that Guel walked into the apartment, hit her multiple times in the face, grabbed her by her hair, slammed her head into the bed several times, causing some of her hair to be removed from her head.
Officers at the scene located a chunk of hair matching the woman’s on the kitchen counter, the complaint states.
After the assault, the woman told officers Guel paced around her apartment yelling at her before he laid down and fell asleep.
While Guel was asleep, the woman said she was able to get her watch to text a friend to contact law enforcement, according to the complaint.
Guel was arrested and taken to the Des Moines County Jail.
Court records show Guel has a previous conviction of serious domestic assault from March 2021.
His preliminary hearing was scheduled for 2 p.m. Monday.
Guel is being held on $10,000 cash-only bond.
Guel has an 0-4 amateur MMA record and most recently competed in August 2024.
