UFC star Henry Cejudo sprang into action last week, aiding police in detaining a suspected drunk driver who crashed into his neighbor's home. The former champion fighter, dressed in silky gold pajamas, tackled the fleeing suspect and "smacked him around a little bit" after the chaotic incident unfolded in his Phoenix neighborhood.
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The drama began around 8:30 p.m. Friday when Cejudo, an Olympic gold medalist, heard a loud crash while working from home. "Boom! I knew he hit something or somebody," he told Fox 10 Phoenix. The sound came from four or five houses down, where he spotted a car speeding through the street. Police later identified the driver as 22-year-old Angel Cota, who Cejudo estimated was traveling over 80 miles per hour.
Cejudo rushed to his 65-year-old neighbor Wayne's house, where Cota's vehicle had plowed into the first floor. He confronted Cota as the suspect tried to flee. "I said, 'Hey man, you aren't going nowhere,'" Cejudo recounted. Wayne attempted to block Cota, but the driver punched him. "He ran into the house with his car, then assaulted him. I had to step in," Cejudo said.
The former flyweight and bantamweight champ chased Cota down, tackled him, and restrained him. "I grabbed him, controlled him fast, put his hands behind his back, and smacked him around a bit," Cejudo told the outlet.
Other neighbors joined in, landing a few blows before Cota tried to escape again. Another resident halted him by drawing a gun until Phoenix Police arrived, according to MMA reporter Dylan Rush, who was filming with Cejudo that day.
Neighborhood Shaken by Near Miss
Instagram video from Rush captured the aftermath: Wayne, gray-haired and bloodied, spoke with officers as Cota's car sat lodged in the home's front room. Hours earlier, the street had hosted a block party with dozens of children. "If this happened at 6:30 instead of 8:30, someone could've died," Cejudo said. "I'm surprised no one did."
Police arrested Cota, charging him with driving while intoxicated and assault. The incident rattled the quiet community, but Cejudo's quick response prevented further harm. Known for his UFC fighting prowess, the 38-year-old credited his instincts for stepping up. "It was like the octagon came to my neighbor's yard," he quipped.
