New Mexico’s Bernalillo County Court charged the UFC heavyweight champion with assault and interference with communications, two misdemeanors.
The charges stem from a dispute with a representative of Drug Free Sport, the UFC’s anti-doping partner, who came to Jon Jones’ home on March 30 to collect a sample for testing and was allegedly confronted by the 29-fight veteran.
The agent, identified in an incident report as Crystal Martinez, claims that Jon Jones initially failed to provide a urine sample and became hostile. She then said that he picked up her phone and began recording her while threatening to sue.
Martinez also stated that Jones smelled like alcohol and “terrified” her by saying that people that come to his house “end up dead.” The urine sample was submitted shortly afterwards.
After the incident was reported by local Albuquerque outlet ABQ Raw , Jones rebutted via Instagram with a video showing him escorting Martinez and another DFSI representative to their vehicle. Both parties appeared to be on friendly terms.
In the accompanying caption, Jones stated that Martinez was unprofessional. He admitted to using “profanity out of frustration” but countered that “nothing threatening at all” happened. Jones also said that he was hosting “a perfectly normal” birthday party when Martinez arrived.
A virtual bond hearing is set for this Wednesday, July 17. Jones could potentially spend less than a year in jail and $1,500 in fines if convicted on both charges.
Jon Jones’ Troubled History
Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
Jon Jones is no stranger to legal issues. The longtime light heavyweight king has been involved with multiple incidents that resulted in arrests and convictions including a 2015 hit and run that resulted in a pregnant woman being injured. In 2021, he pled no contest to charges stemming from a domestic incident with his fiancé.
It is also not the first time that Jones has run afoul of drug testers. A pair of positive steroid tests forced his removal from the main event of UFC 200 and his knockout win over Daniel Cormier at UFC 214 was amended to a no contest. He was stripped of the light heavyweight title both times.
Jones last competed when he submitted Cyril Gane for the vacant heavyweight title at UFC 285. It was the first time he stepped in the Octagon in three years. A defense against former champ Stipe Miocic was set for UFC 295 until an injury forced Jones to withdraw.
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