UFC champion Jon Jones has finally spoken out regarding the widely circulated road rage video from Albuquerque. He stated he was “proud” of his behavior during the confrontation, viewing it as a moment where he stood firm against on-road intimidation.
The altercation occurred in Albuquerque, New Mexico, near the junction of Central Avenue and Eubank, a familiar locale for Jones throughout his UFC career. Bryan Beltran, 19, uploaded footage of the event to Instagram, alleging that a black Ford SVT pickup nearly collided with his vehicle three times while driving on Central. Following these near-misses, both drivers pulled into a nearby parking lot.
Beltran’s Instagram caption detailed his reaction to the repeated close calls. He asserted that the truck “almost hit [him] 3 times” on Central Avenue near Eubank. Even after his initial engine revving, the other driver allegedly came close to hitting him twice more, prompting Beltran to make an offensive gesture.
Beltran subsequently identified the other motorist as Jon Jones, indicating that he harbored “no hard feelings” afterward, characterizing the face-to-face interaction as intense yet short-lived once they both exited their cars.
The video, captured by Beltran using Meta smart glasses, shows Jones exiting his pickup and approaching Beltran’s car with his left hand in his pocket. Beltran can be heard accusing Jones of nearly hitting him, to which Jones calmly responded, “You gotta calm down, bro. You gotta relax yourself, bro,” before walking away.
Nearing the end of the confrontation, Jones displayed his middle finger towards the camera before re-entering his vehicle and departing the parking lot without any further escalation. Online opinions regarding the video’s tone are divided, with some critics focusing on Jones’ gesture, while others commend his restraint, noting he avoided shouting, physical contact, or prolonging the verbal exchange.
Jon Jones’ Perspective on the Road Rage Incident
Following the video’s widespread circulation, Jones shared his account of events on Twitter/X. He alleged that the younger driver was the instigator after the initial road encounter. “This individual pursued my vehicle for two blocks, revving his engine in an attempt to intimidate me,” Jones stated. He further expressed, “I am glad this occurred to me and not one of the elderly members of 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’ Past Encounters with the Law
This recent road rage footage emerges against the backdrop of Jones’ extensive and problematic history outside the octagon, particularly concerning his driving. In 2015, he was given probation for a hit-and-run in New Mexico that involved a pregnant woman. Then, in 2025, he faced a misdemeanor charge for leaving the scene of a separate accident in Bernalillo County, though prosecutors eventually dropped the case after deeming his alibi credible.
This checkered past largely explains why this brief parking lot confrontation has sparked such widespread debate. Both fans and critics are now deliberating whether Jones’ actions represented a controlled reaction to provocation or simply another troubling incident in a recurring pattern that has unfortunately shadowed one of MMA’s most acclaimed champions.