A video of UFC veteran Josh Neer beating up an internet heckler has been circulating online.
BloodyElbow reported that the video, which lasted almost 15 seconds, showed him on top of the unidentified man delivering heavy elbows and punches. Two guys came to separate the two and Neer threw a finishing soccer kick to the downed guy's head.
Neer shared with BloodyElbow before the fight that he decided to settle the score with the trash-talking heckler, who was later identified as Patrick Martin.
Neer said, "Basically the guy's a dumbass and been talking shit about MMA fighters for a month. On and on, I usually ignore him but this Saturday he wrote me on Facebook the message I gave. He had written 10 messages to me talking shit which I ignored, but this time I said if you really want to fight come to the gym Monday at 5:30."
He continued, "I don't know what his problem is but he's a big guy, like 6-6 and 270 pounds and just acts like a bully. That what he seems like to me, just a bully."
Neer said, "He showed up at 6:10, 40 mins into my practice. And then I asked him if he wanted to fight Rakim or me and Rakim is bigger than me so of course he chose me."
Based on a report by TMZ Sports, after he defeated the heckler, Neer wrote a message meant for Martin, "Hopefully he can learn a lesson and humble himself."
An Iowa Athletic Commission representative said that they are aware of the fight that occurred and are still investigating whether there are rules that were violated.
MMA Junkie wrote that Pete Peterson, the owner and head instructor of RoundKick gym in Iowa, the site of the match, said that the fight got blown out of proportion by social media users. According to Peterson, Martin was disrespectful in his class and that it was safer for the two to fight in the gym where there were other instructors present.
However, MMA Weekly revealed that Martin turned out to be a sore loser. Martin's Facebook page reportedly featured various status updates, including one saying that Neer should have uploaded all of the fight footage.
Martin wrote, "IF YOU BELIEVE THATS HOW THAT WENT DOWN THEN YOUR A DAMN FOOL. THAT WAS 15 SECONDS AFTER THE ROUND WAS OVER AND I TOOK OUT MY MOUTH PIECE TO TO GO AROUND WITH THE NEXT GUY! WELL IF THATS WHAT HAPPEND (sic) WE CAN DO IT AGAIN!"