An MMA fighter stunned the online community when he used his bare hands to subdue a 2.4-meter-long alligator that wandered into a residential area in Northside, Florida, USA.
A video recorded the moment Mike Dragich, 34, an MMA fighter, approached the 2.4-meter alligator from behind. Taking advantage of the creature’s momentary lapse in awareness, Dragich stealthily moved in and suddenly used his entire body to pin the aggressive alligator down.
The video captures the MMA fighter using his bare hands to catch an alligator on the street. (Video: Click2houston).
As the alligator opened its mouth to retaliate, Dragich immediately used his bare hands to secure the “swamp killer”. His grip was so strong that it made the alligator feel like it was stuck to the pavement.
After successfully restraining the alligator, Dragich calmly lifted its jaw and wrapped a special type of tape around its snout, preventing it from opening its mouth again, and then lifted it off the ground without any additional equipment.
Witnesses cheered as Dragich controlled and lifted his impressive catch. Many onlookers took out their phones to record the entire event.
Following the incident, Dragich shared that he received a call from the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office, informing him about the alligator’s presence in the residential area.
Using bare hands and feet, Dragich pinned down the alligator without needing any supporting equipment. (Image sourced from the video).
April marks the beginning of the alligator mating season, so similar incidents are quite common in many areas of North America, where the American alligator (Alligator mississippiensis) is prevalent.
Immediately, Dragich abandoned his wrestling match scheduled to take place in five minutes and moved to the location to catch the alligator.
It is known that Dragich has long been famous for his enthusiastic participation in alligator captures, which has attracted tens of thousands of online followers.
Last June, this veteran MMA fighter was called to remove a 3-meter-long aggressive alligator from a parking lot near a Jacksonville elementary school.
With just his bare hands, Dragich wrestled with the massive reptile in front of a cheering crowd.
“I really felt like Batman,” Dragich shared with FOX 35 Orlando. “I got the call and immediately showed up to handle the situation.”
American alligators are often found in residential areas in the U.S. if the area is near their breeding grounds (Image: Getty).
Alligator sightings in U.S. residential areas are primarily associated with the American alligator (scientific name: Alligator mississippiensis). This native species can grow to lengths of 4 to 5 meters and weigh over 400 kg.
Records indicate that the largest alligator ever found in Louisiana measured up to 5.84 meters in length.
This species thrives in freshwater environments such as ponds, marshes, rivers, and lakes, as well as brackish water. They are considered crucial for maintaining biodiversity in wetland areas.
Their bite force is the most dangerous weapon, contributing to the nickname “swamp killer” for American alligators.
On average, an alligator’s bite delivers a force of up to 9,452 newtons in laboratory conditions, making it one of the highest recorded forces for any living animal.
Additionally, the long tail of this species serves as a defensive weapon when alligators feel threatened.
Data collected from 1734 to 2017 indicates that American alligators have caused 213 attacks, including 30 fatalities.
