CRESTWOOD, MO — A shoplifting suspect in Missouri got stopped in his tracks by a former MMA fighter as he tried to leave the store.

Jesse Finney spotted the man trying to run out the front entrance door of a Schnuck’s grocery store in the city of Crestwood, in St. Louis County.

Finney had been trained as a professional kickboxer and mixed martial arts fighter, and he owns two martial arts schools.

He was alarmed when the suspected thief tussled with a female employee, so he grabbed the man and pinned him to the ground until police arrived.

Finney says that MMA is about more than physical ability. He says it’s the mental discipline that allowed him to keep his cool under pressure.

“I think if I wouldn’t have had that you never know what would have happened,” he said.

“I could have helped somebody or I possibly could have hurt him. Luckily, I didn’t so it worked out really well.”

Local media reports said that the suspect could face charges for theft under $500.