A recent home invasion in Florida took an unexpected turn when the intruder encountered a trained mixed martial arts (MMA) fighter. Austin Caresani, 31, was arrested and charged with one count of home invasion without a firearm, as per Broward County court records. The incident took place in a house located in Wilton Manors, a small town just north of Fort Lauderdale in the Miami metropolitan area.
The house was occupied by Henny Rojas, a professional MMA fighter, at the time of the intrusion. Rojas was ready to face the intruder, having been trained to handle such situations both inside and outside the ring. The aftermath of the confrontation was evident in Caresani’s mug shot, which showed the results of Rojas’ defensive actions.
Rojas, in an interview with a Miami-based CBS affiliate, expressed his readiness for such situations. “I’m prepared,” he said. “It’s not my first time. I don’t feel any pain. Nothing.” He also demonstrated the moves that helped him neutralize the intruder, emphasizing his reliance on his skills rather than weapons. “I don’t like guns,” Rojas added, “just God and my hands and that’s all.”
Rojas was alerted to the intrusion by his nephew, who was also in the house at the time. Upon waking up, Rojas confronted Caresani, leading to a physical altercation. The parents of the teenager, who were out of town, received a distressing call from their son about the break-in.
Caresani, however, claimed that the entire incident was a misunderstanding, resulting from his inebriation. According to the arrest report, Caresani stated that he had consumed several alcoholic beverages at a local club and was attempting to go to his friend’s house, who he believed lived in the area. Despite his attempts to evade one of the witnesses, Caresani was apprehended.
Rojas, reflecting on the incident, told a Miami-based NBC affiliate, “We’re not scared, I’m not scared. It’s too fast, I don’t remember, I just protect my family and that’s it.” Caresani was detained in the Broward County Jail before being released on a $20,000 bond, as per court records.