PH-born mixed martial artist subdues crazed man attacking people on NY street
Ro Malabanan keeps suspect pinned down after stopping him from attacking more people on New York City street. INSTAGRAM
A Filipino American mixed martial artist took down and pinned an attacker after seeing him hit another man in an unprovoked attack in New York City.
Ro Malabanan, a mixed martial arts fighter and black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu, was on his way to work when saw a homeless man, later identified as 28-year-old Samuel Frazier, sucker-punch a construction worker in SoHo on July 27.
Witnesses told Malabanan that Frazier had also attacked six other men before the last victim, prompting him to chase after Frazier.
Philippine-born Ro Malabanan said he turned to martial arts after experiencing harassment due to his race. SCREENGRAB
“My jiu-jitsu instincts just kicked in. I jumped on his back,” Malabanan said in a video posted to his Instagram. Frazier tried to free himself from Malabanan, “but a seatbelt position dragged him down to the floor, and I immediately took his back and pinned him to the ground.”
While Frazier he was pinned to the ground, some of his victims started attacking him, but the MMA expert asked them to stop and call the police instead. He kept the attacker pinned down until police arrived.
New York Police arrested Frazier, who has been charged with two counts of assault.
Malabanan, who was born in the Philippines, emigrated to the U.S. with his family when he was 9 years old. He teaches boxing in New York. He said he turned to martial arts after experiencing harassment due to his race.
“A lot of crazies out there right now in the streets so please be careful,” Malabanan posted. “They will sucker-punch you they will take out their frustrations. It’s hot in New York right now so hot temperatures equal hotheads, and some people out there are just looking for a reason to just cause trouble.”
“I don’t think I’m a hero, just doing my part for New York. We New Yorkers are willing to help strangers out because that’s what New York is all about,” Malabanan was quoted by NBC News. “I’m just really grateful I was able to stop someone and put my martial arts to use. Being able to help people, to do it in the real world, is incredible.”
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