This is the moment an ear-biting thug got his comeuppance when he picked a fight with a 16-year-old martial arts world champ.

The yob threatened student Alex Williams, while he was on his lunch break with a friend, Teesside Live reports.

Shouting 'I'm gunna smash your head in' and 'I'm gunna stab you down the alley', unluckily for him the bully had picked on the wrong lad.

At that point Alex, a multiple junior world champion in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, jumped into defence mode.

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Video footage shows the moment Alex delivered a signature double leg takedown which allowed him to restrain the fully grown man on the ground on Guisborough High Street..

Speaking of the incident, Alex, from Redcar, told Teesside Live: "As he got closer to me I saw an opportunity to defend myself and fight back, so I took it.

"When the fight or flight kicks in you've got to choose one or the other and I chose to fight back and I was focused.

"Obviously I was worried in case he had a knife on him because he has threatened to stab me but in situations like that it's about surviving and I was thankfully ready for him."

Alex is trained in BJJ, MMA, mixed martial arts and wrestling

The 30 second clip - which has since gone viral - shows the man trying and failing, to attack Alex for a second time.

"I thought after I had taken him down the first time that he would have walked away but he came back for more so I just continued to try to restrain him without hitting him.

"I was in a seated position and the move just came to me naturally because I've drilled it a thousand times in training.

"My main aim was to de-escalate the situation safely."

Eventually the man walked away and Prior Pursglove College student Alex rang Cleveland Police.

"There was blood everywhere and I realised he had bitten a chunk out of my ear," added Alex, who is studying maths, accountancy and economics.

"I went to hospital to get it cleaned and I've got six stitches in it now."

Alex delivered a signature double leg takedown which allowed him to restrain the fully grown man

Alex who is trained in BJJ, MMA, mixed martial arts and wrestling at SBG South Shields says he hopes his experience encourages others to take up a combat sport.

He added: "I just saw the situation as a bit of a scuffle but now about 1.3m people have watched the video I can't believe it.

"It's surreal really - but I am glad it's raised awareness for other young people like me to hopefully inspire them to get into a combat sport or something where they can learn to defend themselves safely."

The clip was shared by professional fighter and coach Alex Enlund who praised Alex for his efforts.

He tweeted: "Alex shows composure, restraint and courage to handle this situation.

"Get your kid into Martial Arts & Combat Sports it's unlikely they will become the bully due to the humility learned on mats."

A Cleveland Police confirmed the force had received a report of an "unprovoked assault".

Alex needed six stitches

A spokeswoman said: "Police were contacted just before 2pm on Tuesday by a member of the public reporting an unprovoked assault on a 16-year-old boy in Guisborough around an hour before.

"The boy had been verbally threatened then assaulted by a man, who was possibly with another man.

"He suffered bruising and a bite to his ear. The caller gave initial first aid while his parents were contacted to take him for further medical checks and treatment.

"Officers spoke to his parents again later that day and arranged for an officer to attend the boy's home address to take further details."

Inquiries are on-going and anyone who has not yet spoken to police is asked to contact Cleveland Police on the 101 number, quoting Ref 155715.

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