MMA fighter Joyce Vieira reflects on aftermath of man's alleged sex act

Joyce Vieira attacks the man who allegedly exposed himself. Photo / Twitter

Brazilian MMA fighter Joyce Vieira has revealed she has nightmares of the man who allegedly exposed himself to her during a photo shoot last week.

Vieira, a specialist in Muay Thai and Jiu-Jitsu, was snapped punching the man after he allegedly pulled his swim trunks down and started "making noises and groaning" while she was modelling on Praia do Braga beach in Rio de Janeiro.

The man has since been released from police custody and denied the allegations, with police telling local reporters that he had claimed he "was urinating" on the beach before being approached by Vieira.

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A felicidade não é um destino. É um método de vida. #sabadou #summer #praia #mar #amizade #arraialdocabo #caribebrasileiro @toemarraial ❤

A post shared by Joice Vieira (@eujoice.vieira) on Jan 5, 2019 at 7:17pm PST

Speaking to The Sun, Vieira admitted that she has woken up in the middle of the night with the ordeal playing over in her mind.

"It affected my life, more because I had that reaction, I didn't put my head down and I faced up to him! For a whole week I slept and woke up with the scene in my head," she said.

"I haven't thought about what my reaction will be if I see him in the street."

Agreeing when asked if she wanted the man behind bars, Vieira called for stronger punishments for similar incidents.

"We feel powerless. It's very strange because he's going to be in the same city as me, and who knows he might be in the same places," she said.

"That's why I have received an innumerable number of messages from women saying that (in similar situations) they didn't file a report, because they know the suspects would end up being released.

"I think the punishment for these cases should be more severe."