UFC champion Jon Jones has publicly commented on a widely circulated road rage video from Albuquerque, New Mexico. Jones stated he felt “proud” of his conduct during the confrontation, characterizing his actions as a stand against intimidation on the road.
The incident occurred in Albuquerque, near the intersection of Central Avenue and Eubank, an area familiar to Jones throughout his UFC career. Bryan Beltran, 19, posted footage of the encounter on Instagram, alleging that Jones’s black Ford SVT pickup nearly collided with his vehicle three times while driving on Central Avenue. Both vehicles subsequently pulled into a nearby parking lot.
Beltran’s caption further elaborated that his reaction followed these repeated near misses. He claimed that after revving his engine the first time, Jones’s truck still almost hit him twice more, prompting Beltran to gesture rudely at the other driver. Beltran later identified the other driver as Jon Jones, and described the post-vehicle exchange as tense but brief, stating he held “no hard feelings.”
The viral clip, captured by Beltran’s Meta smart glasses, shows Jones exiting his truck and approaching Beltran’s car with his left hand in his pocket. Beltran can be heard accusing Jones of nearly hitting him. Jones responds calmly, “You gotta calm down, bro. You gotta relax yourself, bro,” before turning away.
As the interaction concluded, Jones raised his middle finger towards the camera before returning to his vehicle and departing the parking lot without further escalation. Online opinions on the video are divided, with some focusing on Jones’s gesture, while others commend his relatively calm demeanor, noting he avoided shouting, shoving, or extending the verbal exchange.
Jon Jones Responds to the Road Rage Incident
Following the video’s widespread circulation, Jones shared his own account on Twitter/X, asserting that the younger driver initiated the aggression after the initial road incident. Jones wrote, “This kid proceeded to chase my car down for two blocks, revving his engine and trying to intimidate me.” He also expressed relief, stating, “I am glad this happened to me and not one of the senior citizens in our community.”
“This kid proceeded to chase my car down for two blocks, revving his engine and trying to intimidate me. I am glad this happened to me and not one of the senior citizens in our community. I am proud of myself for standing up for myself and not allowing that kind of bullying or intimidation.”
Jon Jones’s Controversial History
This recent road rage incident draws attention to Jones’s long and troubled history outside the octagon, particularly concerning driving offenses. In 2015, he received probation following a hit-and-run incident in New Mexico involving a pregnant woman. In 2025, he faced a misdemeanor charge for leaving the scene of a separate crash in Bernalillo County, though prosecutors later dismissed the case after his alibi was deemed credible.
Given his past, this brief parking-lot encounter has ignited a significant debate. Fans and critics are weighing in on whether Jones displayed a composed response to provocation or if this is another concerning chapter in a recurring pattern of behavior that continues to shadow one of MMA’s most accomplished champions.
