What happens after Maero has main character in the chokehold?

I've replayed the cutscene several times and somehow I don't understand what goes down right after Maero gets the leader of Saints in a chokehold. The action is too fast for my eyes.

Main character gets free somehow, yet I can't see if he pulls a knife and then elbows Maero in the chin or if he punches Maero before pulling a knife?

This is followed by some stabbing or slashing sequence. Yet, I can't make out with what Maero is getting stabbed - is it a knife or some other sharp object?