Filed under: News
Former UFC heavyweight champion Ricco Rodriguez was arrested this past Sunday near in Arizona on charges of assault and resisting arrest, according to police records.
In an incident first reported by MyFoxPhoenix, Rodriguez allegedly assaulted a taxi cab driver after refusing to pay more than $20 for a $70 fare in Ahwatukee, south of Phoenix. When the police were called to the scene, police said it took three officers to control Rodriguez.
“It’s our policy to handcuff behind — that did not occur. He was struggling with the officers, flailing his arms … one of the officers was pushed against the wall, and we believe at that point he sustained a minor injury or cut to his elbow,” Sgt. Steve Martos said in the MyFoxPhoenix report.
Rodriguez (46-11) is currently riding an 11-fight win streak fighting in local circuits around the world. In February, he defeated James McSweeney via unanimous decision at BAMMA 5: Daley vs. Shirai in Manchester, England. During that time, he was rumored to join Bellator, but that never came to fruition, and unable to earn a return trip to the UFC, set his goal instead on 50 career wins.
Rodriguez once held the UFC heavyweight title by defeating Randy Couture at UFC 39 in September 2002.