A mixed martial arts welterweight known as “The Black Dragon” was arrested in Chinatown on Sunday after police say he beat a 22-year-old woman inside a Lower Manhattan apartment building, leaving her with scratches and bruises across her chest and arms. Solomon Renfro, 29, was taken into custody after officers responded to a 911 call at 47 Madison St., and he was arraigned in Manhattan Criminal Court later that day.
What Police Say Happened in Chinatown
According to the New York Post, the NYPD responded to the 911 call at the Chinatown address on Sunday and found the woman with scratches and bruises on her chest and arms. EMS treated her at the scene, per the same report. Police said Renfro was taken in for questioning and ultimately arrested following the response.
Officers charged Renfro roughly two hours after his arrest, according to police cited in the report. The charges include assault, aggravated harassment, criminal mischief and criminal possession of a controlled substance, police said. He was arraigned in Manhattan Criminal Court and referred to a court-ordered problem solving program, the outlet notes, and he is due back in court on November 18.
Who Is Solomon ‘The Black Dragon’ Renfro?
Renfro fights as a mixed martial arts welterweight and carries an 11-6 record, according to ESPN as cited in the Post's report. He fought Brent Primus during 2024 PFL 5 in Salt Lake City. Primus submitted Renfro by rear-naked choke at 3:21 of the third round, according to Yahoo Sports, which noted the win clinched Primus a playoff spot.
That loss dropped Renfro to 1-3 inside the Professional Fighters League, with Yahoo Sports reporting his other PFL losses came against Magomed Magomedkerimov and Gadzhi Rabadanov. Primus, for his part, improved to 3-0 with one no contest across his four most recent outings following the bout, per the same account. The matchup itself is also listed in the PFL's own fight archive, confirming the 2024 Salt Lake City card featured the two fighters.
Court Date Set for November
Renfro's next court appearance is scheduled for November 18 in Manhattan, according to the Post's sourcing. No additional details about the woman's condition beyond the injuries described by police, or about the specific circumstances that led to the 911 call, have been made public.
