A professional fighter has been praised for stepping up during a frightening road rage incident on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast, where two young women appeared to be targeted by an angry motorist.
Dashcam video from the Bruce Highway captured the tense moment a van attempted to move across into another lane amid heavy traffic.
Moments later, the van driver got out and walked toward a nearby car occupied by the two women.
The man allegedly attempted to open the driver’s door before Muay Thai champion Ryan McDonald moved in, placing himself between the women and the escalating confrontation as other drivers watched on.
“It was just two girls on their own in the car,” McDonald told Channel Seven on Monday.
He said his instinct was to step in and calm the situation, adding that he saw a chance to use his training to protect the women and help prevent the encounter from getting worse.
Muay Thai champion Ryan McDonald intervened after a road rage incident put two young women in a confronting situation in Queensland
The motorist is said to have backed off after recognising McDonald was a seasoned professional Muay Thai fighter and competitor
McDonald and the van driver exchanged words before both men removed their shirts in the middle of the road.
However, the confrontation ended without a punch being thrown when the motorist learned McDonald was a professional fighter.
McDonald has recorded eight victories during his fighting career, including four by knockout.
‘He came back up to me and was like “Are you sure you want this?” I was like, “Yeah”,’ McDonald said.
The van driver returned to his vehicle and drove away.
McDonald highlighted that preventing the confrontation from becoming violent was the ideal result.
‘It was the best possible outcome, to de-escalate the [situation]… everybody got home safe that day,’ he said.
Footage of the incident has since attracted more than three million views across social media, where McDonald was widely praised for helping the women.
Dashcam footage showed a van veering into the lane where the car containing the two women was driving
The 19-year-old fighter, pictured centre right, has recorded eight professional victories during his career, including four wins by knockout so far.
The fighter has drawn comparisons to WWE star Cody Rhodes, who will play Guile in the upcoming Street Fighter movie
‘What a legend to put himself in that position and defend those girls he didn’t even know,’ one social media user said.
Another person said: ‘Glad he stepped in. I’ve got daughters and granddaughters and that man trying to open the car door isn’t on.’
A third added: ‘I cannot quite believe this man stepped in to help two vulnerable women, and most of you only want to make comments on his appearance!
‘Good on you mate, I’d be glad to have you there if this happened to me or my daughter.’
Some social media users said the incident would have been a ‘scary experience’ for the women.
‘Only a complete loser of a man would try to intimidate or threaten young women. Thankfully there are still decent men around prepared to step in,’ a commenter said.
Other Australians compared McDonald’s distinctive bleached blonde haircut and muscular appearance to the character Guile from the Street Fighter video game series.
‘Why does he look like Guile from StreetFighter?’ one user asked, to which a second said: ‘Because he IS Guile from Street Fighter!’
Another person said: ‘Why ask that question when you and I both know that is Guile? Living breathing legend.’
The comparison comes ahead of the new live-action Street Fighter movie, which is scheduled to reach Australian cinemas on October 15.
WWE superstar Cody Rhodes, known to wrestling fans as the ‘American Nightmare’ and also sporting bleached hair, will play Guile in the upcoming film.
