Phil Baroni, aka ‘The New York Bad Ass’ is a larger-than-life character who became a cult figure during his time in the UFC in the early 2000’s, and as this fight video from many several years earlier proves, his brash, hot-headed personality isn’t just an act – that’s the way he’s always been!

This amateur boxing ‘Toughman’ tournament took place before his MMA career, with the 24 year-old being on the verge of attending Central Michigan University on a wrestling scholarship at the time.

Baroni made short work of his first opponent, Chris Thurlow, who he dropped twice in the opening minute with punishing body shots that forced him to quit.

In the semi-finals Baroni would face Ole Thorson and he started to veer off the rails in the second round when he shoved his opponent to the mat, then fired off a vicious right hook as Thorson tried to stand back up, followed a few seconds later with a knee to the head!

Any more of that sh*t and you’re out of here, you understand me? the referee warned Baroni, who had either forgotten this was a boxing match, or just didn’t care.

The latter option seems more likely, as mid-way through the third round Baroni was breaking the rules again, flooring Thurson with a right hook and then following up with an uppercut while he was still lying on the canvas!

Somehow Baroni was allowed to continue on, albeit after having a point deducted, and so the fight ended up going to a judges’ decision.

Though he had dominated most of the fight, Baroni’s ‘bad boy’ antics clearly didn’t sit well with the judges, who awarded a split decision verdict in favor of Thurson.

At that stage Baroni completely lost the plot, attempting to knock the mic out of the announcers hand and then going after his opponent.

The referee and Baroni’s own cornerman tried to hold him back, but the red mist had descended and he managed to wrench himself free and charge at Thurson.

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In the end it would take a scrum full of Toughman officials, cornermen and security staff piled in on top of him before Baroni finally regained his senses and calmed down.