Joe Torrez kills home invader: MMA fighter protects family from four violent attackers on New Year's, leads to hospitalization and arrests

TMZ reports that MMA lightweight fighter Joe Torrez fought-off four home invaders in New Mexico on New Year's Day - ultimately killing one assailant during the violent brawl.

According to the infamous gossip webloid, four men came looking for 27-year-old Torrez after getting into an altercation on New Year's Eve. They arrived at Torrez's New Mexico home on January 1 ready to shed some blood... but Torrez wasn't about to let his young son, fiancee, and her sister get hurt.

Authorities report that the intruders tried to force their way into Torrez's home, and that's when the professional fighter "unleashed the fury."

Someone in the home managed to call 911 - when police arrived, one of the attackers was found with multiple stab wounds to the torso and blunt force trauma to the head. He died at the scene shortly after.

Another guy was immediately transported to a nearby hospital with "severe facial injuries."

The other two assailants were promptly arrested. The three surviving invaders are currently facing several charges including aggravated burglary, conspiracy to commit aggravated battery, and criminal damage to property. 

Torrez is a 155-pound lightweight MMA fighter with a record of one win and five losses. For his full fighter profile, go here.

Officials claim that Torrez could also face criminal charges in the one invader's death, but nothing's happened with that so far.

Meanwhile, neighbors throughout the community are deeming Torrez a "hero."