Mike Beltran: Downey's biggest tough guy

You might very well recognize Mike Beltrán from his many years of being one of the most respected referees in Mixed Martial Arts. But the proud Downey resident has recently started venturing into another arena, Hollywood.

The casting directors for FX’s Mayans M.C. hit gold with Beltran, as I couldn’t imagine a better motorcycle gang boss. Beltran checks all the boxes of being a bona fide badass. He is big, bald, sports a trademark yard-long braided mustache, boasts tattooed arms, and has hands that could crush a gorilla’s.

Beltan’s appearance is a bit intimidating, so he understands being typecast early on. He will invariably be hired to play the bad guy on the big screen but, in real life, Beltran is a genuinely good guy with a big heart.

Ever since joining the Marine Corps at the age of 18, Beltran decided to dedicate his life to serving his country and his local community. The proud, first-generation, Mexican-American patriot was kind enough to grant me a phone interview. We spoke for the better part of an hour.

When we began the interview, he started off by expressing how proud he was of his family’s devotion to the community. He was quick to boast about his son Michael’s accolades as an All-American wrestler at St. John Bosco High School. Even more impressive was Michael being granted a Presidential nomination and admission to the United States Military Academy West Point, where he is currently enrolled and hoping to one day earn the title of Army Ranger.

As a single parent, Beltran credits his parents for instilling in him the immeasurable values of hard work, integrity, and loyalty. He was eager to share some family stories and to highlight their familial ethos of giving back.

“Like many Mexican immigrants, my parents came from Sinaloa and Durango, Mexico directly to East LA. They did this to give us hope for a better life, while adapting and thriving into their new roles in American society,” said Beltran. “We are proud Mexicans. We are proud Americans.”

Beltran is a busy guy but occasionally enjoys a beer at Bastards, a cocktail at Lock & Key, or a few sips of Tequila Mandala in the pool at his home. “I love supporting everything local,” he said.

Keep up with our local hero on his Instagram feed @Referee_Mike_Beltran