MMA fighter charged with road-rage attack

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FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla., March 7 (UPI) -- A South Florida man says he came close to shooting a mixed-martial arts fighter who allegedly attacked his assistant during a road-rage incident.

Instead, police broke up the fight Monday afternoon in Coral Springs, the South Florida Sun Sentinel reported. The report said Fernando Rodrigues, 31, was arrested and charged with using a deadly weapon -- his hands -- as well as burglary and assault with a firearm.

He was ordered held without bond at a hearing Tuesday.

Michael Caccavella of Lake Worth, who has a pool service business, said the incident began at a red light. Rodrigues, in a Hummer, was behind Caccavella's truck and apparently thought he lingered too long at the light, the report said.

Rodrigues allegedly followed Caccavella away from the light, driving erratically, Caccavella said. When he pulled over to call police, Rodrigues also allegedly stopped and attacked him and his assistant, Juan Uribe, Caccavella said.

After Rodrigues wrestled Uribe to the ground, Caccavella said he pulled his own weapon.

"I was ready to shoot him and do everyone on Earth a favor. I pulled the trigger, but realized I didn't have one in the chamber," Caccavella said. "This could've ended really bad for everyone."

At that point, police arrived.

Rodrigues of Coral Springs, a former Marine who served two tours of duty in Iraq, is a co-founder of America Top Team, a martial arts training facility.