An experienced fighter wasn't afraid to face off against a giant alligator that he was trying to trap in a school. The duo engaged in a fierce battle, with one winning over the other.
MMA Fighter Vs. Alligator
MMA fighter Mike Dragich, who previously served in the US Marine Corps, received a last-minute call from wildlife officials to help them trap a wild beast near the Jacksonville elementary school on May 21. Dragic agreed and shared a clip of his fierce encounter with the reptile on Facebook.
According to Fox News, nearly 200 people watched Dragich and the gator outside the school. They saw him when he jostled the 10-foot alligator before wrangling it.
According to him, they immediately saw the gator in the parking lot when they got through the gate. He understood they had to finish the job, so he pulled the gator by the tail. However, he lost control after dragging it just a couple of inches.
In the clip, the spectators can be heard cheering on Dragich with excitement and fear. The gator also fought well and even engaged in a death roll when Dragich got its catchpole within its mouth.
In an interview with local station News4Jax (via Daily Star), the professional fighter said it was a "unique experience," luckily, they could handle it. He explained that many might think he was poking and messing with the gator, but he had to make the reptile tired, which was part of his technique in gator trapping.
The gator was reportedly very powerful that it broke his catchpole, which was stainless steel. He eventually overpowered it after getting behind the gator's back and grabbing its neck.
Dragich mentioned in a TV interview that they had to put it down for safety reasons when asked what happened to the gator. According to him, they couldn't relocate it as doing so wouldn't benefit the community and the wildlife around that area.
How Strong Are Alligators?
Alligators are among the strongest animals. Their bite force is the sixth most powerful on the planet. They can outpower the bit force of big cats, including lions, according to Fauna Facts.
They also have strong tails, which they can use to whip their foes, including animals or humans, to defend themselves. In this video, a woman got knocked off when the gator whipped its tail after she pushed some part of its body. The gator did the whip in the clip without even inserting too much force. It just simply moved its tail. Fortunately, someone was with the woman to help her stand up.
Gators also use their tails to propel themselves in the water and jump off it if they wish.
Fortunately, the gator that Dragic encountered didn't use its powerful tail to knock him down, or he was probably good at avoiding it.
RELATED ARTICLE: Homeowner Shot a 7-Foot Alligator 4 Times in the Head While the Beast Was Biting His Dog; FWC Will Not File Charges for the Killing
Check out more news and information on Alligators in Science Times.
