UFC veteran floors man during police stop in Florida

Marlon Moraes, a UFC veteran and former WSOF bantamweight champion, has become the subject of viral attention following the release of police body camera footage from a traffic stop in Florida. The incident occurred on March 27, when Moraes, who works as a law enforcement officer in South Florida, was forced to use his combat skills during an encounter with a confrontational motorist.

During the stop, the man became aggressive toward Moraes, using profanity and claiming he could overpower the officer. After warning the individual not to advance further, Moraes swiftly took action when the man ignored the directive, dropping him to the ground. The body camera footage of the takedown subsequently circulated widely online, drawing attention to Moraes's dual career in policing and mixed martial arts.

Moraes, who compiled a professional MMA record of 23-13-1 before stepping back from competition in 2023, has signaled that retirement is not permanent. After a seven-year absence from the sport, he returned to action in August 2026, earning a decision victory over Maximiliano Perez in the main event of Liga Monstro Combate in Brazil—snapping a seven-fight losing streak in the process. According to reports, Moraes has indicated he is not retired and is actively pursuing a deal to resume his fighting career in the United States, balancing his responsibilities as a police officer with his ambitions in professional MMA.