L.A. Firefighter on Workers' Comp Was MMA Fighter

April 23, 2012 — -- Raphael Davis, at 6 foot 3 inches and 205 pounds, of Costa Mesa, Calif., had a budding career as a mixed martial arts fighter, with a record of 12 victories and 2 losses, according to Sherdog.com. The only problem was the 35-year old was a Los Angeles City firefighter who allegedly filed false workers' compensation insurance for over two years.

Nicknamed "The Noddle," Davis was arrested earlier this month and charged with four felony counts of insurance fraud by the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office for allegedly filing false claims from Dec. 2, 2008 to May 20, 2011. His arraignment is set for May 1 at the Foltz Criminal Justice Center.

LA Weekly reported that his fight record indicates seven fights throughout the two-year period he allegedly filed for workers' compensation.

Capt. Stephen De Prima with the District Attorney's Bureau of Investigation said Davis was arrested at his home in Lomita, Calif., without incident on April 10. He was released the next day after posting $30,000 bail, according to the L.A. County Sheriff's Department.

Davis did not immediately return a request for comment.

If convicted as charged, Davis could face up to five years in county jail.

Davis, categorized in the "light heavyweight" fight class, had earned his 12th career victory on March 24, winning through a second-round technical knockout, according to fighting website Sherdog.com. Davis fought in Bellator Fighting Championships, the second largest MMA promotion behind Zuffa, which owns subsidiaries Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) and Strikeforce.