Formentera, Spain (May 23, 2023) – Former Italian professional mixed martial arts (MMA) star Alessio Di Chirico has been arrested by the Guardia Civil on charges of aggravated assault on a taxi driver in Formentera on Sunday evening, May 21.
The 32-year-old taxi driver, Omar Bouhia El Haouzi, who resides in Formentera, was transferred by helicopter to the hospital in Ibiza and is scheduled to undergo a delicate facial surgery.
According to investigators, Di Chirico had requested the taxi driver to allow him, his partner, and their two children to travel together in the back of the vehicle. They intended to be taken to the “Blanco” hotel in Es Pujols after having dinner at the “La Malagueña” restaurant. However, the taxi driver refused, citing traffic regulations.
Subsequently, Di Chirico took a seat next to the driver, and everything seemed to have settled. Upon reaching their destination, Di Chirico paid the fare as usual but then allegedly began assaulting the taxi driver with powerful punches to the face, causing severe injuries and fractures as per local news.
Alessio Di Chirico had a long career in in MMA. He has competed in the middleweight division of the UFC, becoming the third Italian to do so after Alessio Sakara and Ivan Serati.
In 2017, following his return to Italy, he founded the “Gloria Fight Center,” which has become a prominent institution for MMA in Italy. Additionally, Di Chirico had a background in American football during his youth.
Di Chirico was apprehended after investigators reviewed surveillance footage captured by the hotel’s external cameras, which recorded the incident. The video purportedly shows Di Chirico launching the violent attack on the taxi driver, leaving him bloodied and injured.
The arrest of Alessio Di Chirico, a former MMA champion, has stunned the sports community. The incident serves as a reminder of the importance of maintaining respect and peaceful behavior both inside and outside the octagon.
The legal proceedings will now determine the consequences for Di Chirico’s actions, and the driver will undergo medical treatment to aid in his recovery.