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MMA fighter working at gas station takes out robbers in video

Semi-pro fighter Mayura Dissanyake came to the aid of a co-worker and the whole thing was caught on video.

By Evan Bleier
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HOUSTON, July 29 (UPI) -- A semi-pro mixed martial arts fighter who was working at a Texas gas station came to the aid of a co-worker when a group of would-be robbers attempted to steal the business' bank bag.

During the incident, which was captured by the store's security camera, men poured out of an SUV and descended upon the Fuel Depot employee. When he saw what was going on, Mayura Dissanyake came flying out of the station and fended the men off with his bare hands.

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He was able to knock one of them to the ground with a punch and subdue him until police arrived.

"I just kicked him until he lays down on the floor," Dissanyake said. "Until he stopped moving cause I wasn't sure if he had a knife or a gun so I wanted him to stop moving."

Houston's Local 2 posted the story and a video of the incident online and it has turned Dissanyake into a minor celebrity.

"I love it," Dissanyake told Local 2. "I'm having so much fun reading the comments, messages, everything."

Dissanyake is hopeful that the newfound fame will make it easier for him to get fights.

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"Whenever I have more fans, then I'm going to have more fights because people are coming to see me, so the promoters like that," he said.

Odell Mathis was charged with robbery with bodily injury after the incident.

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