Earlier this month, as reported by KRQE News 13 out of Albuquerque, New Mexico, former UFC fighter Henry Martinez was arrested after allegedly hitting a cyclist with his SUV. Martinez is also accused of leaving the scene of the accident.
The incident occurred on the morning of September 9th around Pan American Frontage Road in the city’s north side. Reportedly, after the cyclist was struck the SUV driver continued on for another mile, until stopping at the Montgomery/Montano overpass at I-25 – with the bicycle still lodged under the vehicle.
The driver, who KRQE identified through a source as Martinez, supposedly stopped driving after a confrontation with an armed onlooker whose identity remains unknown. The passerby trained a firearm on Martinez and held him in place while he called the police.
Eyewitness Vern Hershberger was able to capture on camera Martinez being held at gunpoint by the armed individual. Hershberger told KRQE that Martinez was begging for his life and that he apologized for hitting the cyclist.
Officers from the Albuquerque Police Department arrived on the scene and arrested Martinez, who was charged with Driving While License Suspended and Leaving the Scene of an Accident (No Great Bodily Harm or Death). Martinez pleaded Not Guilty to both charges and posted bond on September 13th.
It is not known what happened to the armed man who held Martinez after the police arrived.
Martinez, who – according to Tapology – trained at Jackson Wink MMA academy, entered the UFC in 2012 after amassing an 8-1 professional record. His only loss at that point was against Wilson Reis at Bellator 2 in 2009. His first match in the UFC was a welterweight bout against Matt Riddle at UFC 143, which he lost via split decision. After this, Martinez dropped to lightweight and won a split decision over Bernardo Magalhaes at UFC on FX: Johnson vs. McCall. Martinez’s final UFC fight was against Daron Cruickshank at UFC on Fox: Henderson vs. Diaz. Martinez, who missed weight on that occasion, lost the fight via KO thanks to a Cruickshank head kick.
Martinez’ last fight was in 2013, versus Des Green at New England Fights (NEF) 7. In that fight, which was for that promotion’s vacant lightweight title, Martinez lost via TKO (knees) taking his pro record to 9-4.
Martinez is presumed innocent of all charges unless proven guilty. Martinez’s trial is set for October 14th.
To see footage from the incident, including Martinez being held at gunpoint, see KRQE News 13’s video below:
About the author
