Police arrested a man they said beat a 21-year-old woman into unconsciousness in a St. Petersburg motel room.

Bruce J. Gress, 30, is facing charges of attempted first-degree murder in connection with the beating, which happened Saturday at the Kenwood Village Inn on 34th Street N.

Police said Gress, who describes himself as a mixed martial arts trainer/fighter, went with the woman to her motel room to engage her in prostitution.

However, once they were inside the room, Gress became upset with the woman and proceeded to strangle, beat and kick the woman in the face until she was unconscious, police said. Afterwards, Gress left the woman for dead in the motel room, police said.

The woman's neighbor heard sounds of distress coming from the room a short while later and discovered the injured woman.

The woman was taken to Bayfront Health St. Petersburg, where she underwent surgery to repair fractures to her jaw and facial area. When the woman regained consciousness, she was able to help detectives identify her assailant, police said.

Gress was booked into the Pinellas County Jail, where he remains without bond.