Mixed martial arts is a pretty useful sport. The closest thing to a real fight in all the combat sports, according to Joe Rogan, MMA allows all martial arts styles in its gambit, with grappling, wrestling, and striking at its core. Because of this, unsurprisingly, the sport also has some very real and very effective real-world applications in helping one defend oneself against attackers.

This effectiveness against attackers was demonstrated yet again as a resurfaced video from last year showed retired MMA fighter Javier Baez dealing with a knife attack. In the video, the former fighter could be seen being attacked by a man wielding a knife who tries to stab him.

Baez expertly dodged a frenzied attack from the offender, then proceeded to close the distance between them, getting a grip on the latter’s left shoulder, and proceeding to lift him in the air and slam him to the ground.

Once the fight went to the ground, Baez could be seen using his body and knee to secure the attacker there, and putting him in a chokehold, until the attacker dropped the knife. After the incident, Baez spoke about the attack, where he revealed that he had been attacked by the man, identified later as Omar Marrero, as he was sitting in his car. Marrero opened the car door and tried to stab the former fighter. This caused Baez to get out of the car, and the events described above unfolded.

The attacker, according to Baez, looked to be delirious and high, not in control of himself. According to the police report of the incident, Marrero faced charges of burglary and aggravated assault. MMA fans had an absolute field day with the video.

Fans react to retired mixed martial artist fighting off knife attack

One fan found it hilarious to see Baez slam the attacker in similar fashion as Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson‘s finisher, ‘Rock Bottom’: “Real life rock bottom is hilarious 😂.” Another saw this resemblance too, and was equally tickled at it: “Bro hit a rock bottom on his candy ah😭🙏”

Another referenced the violent and clearly painful way that the former fighter took the offender down to point out: “Now you know why a take down can give you a point in MMA.” One fan simply felt that this showed how effective MMA actually is: “What mma do🔥thiss”

Another fan felt that the attacker deserved the beating that he got: “That’s what he gets.” One fan simply commented: “Sleep 🛌,” no doubt in reference to what happened to the attacker after Baez was done with him.

Jokingly a fan termed it a bonus-worthy performance from the retired mixed martial artist: “Fight of the night…. no 🧢.”  Another was impressed not only by Baez’s quickness and strength in fighting off the attacker, but also because the former fighter managed to do it in flip-flops: “In flip-flops, no less!!!”

What are your thoughts about the whole affair?