Security guard attacked by Renzo details confusion: 'I had never seen anything like this'

R. Gracie (photo) was involved in trouble at a nightclub in New York. Photo: Josh Hedges/UFC

Security guard Craig Molesphini, attacked by fighter Renzo Gracie in front of a nightclub last Monday (19), gave his first public statement about what happened.

In the early hours of Sunday to Monday, at approximately 1:30 am New York time, Renzo and six other people, including his cousins ​​Igor and Gregor, plus former UFC fighter André Gusmão, were involved in a huge disturbance in front of nightclub 1 -Oak. Molesphini, 35 years old, who works as a security guard and receptionist at the site, ended up being attacked, suffering a broken arm, as well as scratches and cuts, which culminated in the arrest of Renzo's entire group. In an interview with the American newspaper New York Post, Molesphini gave his version of what happened.

“In my entire 14-year career, I had never seen anything like this. At 1:30 in the morning, a gray van parked in the middle of the street and seven men got out and started creating chaos, shouting, and starting to fight with the security guards. A man, who I later discovered was Renzo, came towards me, knocked the velvet ropes [which separate the rows at the entrance] to the ground, ran into my chest and knocked me with my elbow onto the concrete floor. He was on top of me for 20 seconds, trying to punch me, but I wrapped both arms around his neck, so he couldn't hit me, until someone took him away,” described the security guard, who continued:

MORE ABOUT THE RENZO GRACIE CASE:
Renzo Gracie is arrested in the US for fighting in a nightclub
Renzo Gracie pays $10 bail and is released from prison
Renzo Gracie says arrest after nightclub fight was 'a misunderstanding'
Renzo Gracie will face charges of delinquency for fighting

“All seven men were fighting, doing MMA moves on the guards, and some of the guards were injured. When the police arrived, they tried to escape, but the police parked the car in front of the van, which was waiting with a driver”, explained Molesphini.

The security guard was certain that the attack was premeditated and motivated by revenge on the part of Renzo's group. “I was told the attack was in retaliation for me not letting two of his masters into the club last week. The attack was planned in a careful and coordinated manner,” he lamented.

Renzo, 47, was released from prison on Tuesday after posting $10 bail. The PRIDE and UFC veteran has not yet spoken publicly in more detail, although he told the North American website MMA Fighting that it was all just a misunderstanding.