A mouthy motorist who challenged a South Florida police officer during a nighttime traffic stop quickly learned he had picked the wrong man.
Bodycam footage that exploded across social media this weekend shows Coral Springs Police Officer Marlon “Magic” Moraes, a former UFC bantamweight title challenger, using a swift hip toss to plant the aggressive suspect on the pavement after the man stepped toward him and declared, “What are you gonna do? You can’t do sh*t!”
The incident occurred March 27 in a parking lot. Officers had stopped a couple on suspicion of impaired driving. The male passenger grew hostile, telling a female officer to “shut the f—k up” and later calling officers names while refusing to comply as his vehicle was being towed.
Moraes, 38, tried to keep distance and issued clear warnings. “You’re one step away from making it worse for you,” he told the man. The suspect responded that he could “f—k you up” and took those extra steps anyway. Moraes immediately executed a clean takedown using one arm, dropping him to the ground. Fellow officers then moved in to apply handcuffs. The entire physical encounter lasted seconds.
Moraes, a Brazilian who stands 5-foot-6, built his reputation as a world-class fighter. He captured the World Series of Fighting bantamweight title and later challenged for UFC gold against Henry Cejudo at UFC 238 in 2019. He also scored a notable split-decision win over former champion Jose Aldo. After retiring from MMA in 2023, he joined law enforcement in South Florida in 2024, first with Davie Police before moving to Coral Springs.
The video surfaced just days after Moraes returned to the cage, winning a unanimous decision in Brazil on August 28 to snap a long losing streak. Online reaction has been overwhelmingly supportive of the officer’s restraint and effectiveness, with many noting that trained professionals like Moraes can control a situation without unnecessary force. The suspect was taken into custody. Officials have not released his name or specific charges, but the footage makes one thing clear: when you test a former title contender wearing a badge, the results come fast.
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