Jon Jones arrested amid discussions about UFC return
Shortly after talking to media members about a potential return to the Octagon, former UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones was arrested by the Las Vegas Metro Police Department.
According to ESPN’s Marc Raimondi, Jones was arrested early in the morning on September 24, shortly after his historic first fight with Alexander Gustafsson in 2013 was inducted in the UFC Hall of Fame.
Per ESPN’s report, Jones’ arrest occurred at 5:45 a.m. at a resort near Las Vegas Boulevard and Flamingo Road.
Raimondi reported that a police spokesperson said Jones was charged with battery domestic violence and injuring and tampering with a vehicle.
Further details a few days later revealed that Jones had allegedly pulled a woman’s hair and headbutted a police vehicle, causing damage to the vehicle.
Jones spoke with reporters at the UFC Hall of Fame ceremony hours before his apparent arrest, and discussed his plans for a debut in the UFC’s heavyweight division in the first half of 2022.
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Jones has not been seen in the Octagon since he successfully defended the UFC light heavyweight title against Dominick Reyes in February of 2020. He vacated the belt shortly after that fight, citing issues with fighter pay and the quality of opponents in the UFC’s light heavyweight division.
Since vacating the title, Jones has been posting updates about his move to heavyweight, working on building up his frame while new UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou begins his reign over the division.
“My goal is to be the most technical, the most well-conditioned, the strongest out of all the heavyweights,” Jones said before the UFC Hall of Fame ceremony. “That’s what I want. I want to take over all across the board and that’s what I’m going to continue working for.”
“I’m very patient and I know I have several more months of work to do. If anyone is impressed with the way I look today, I can’t wait until they see me when I get back in there. I’m planning on doing so much more.”
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When talking to reporters, Jones mentioned how he planned to increase the hype surrounding his highly-anticipated heavyweight debut.
“I’ll try to do more legally controversial s—,” Jones said.
Unfortunately, he would be arrested for illegal and controversial activity just a few hours later.
This isn’t the first time the 34-year-old UFC star has run into legal trouble in his career, either. Jones was most recently charged with battery in July of 2019, and also turned himself in to police in April of 2015 after leaving the scene of a hit-and-run.
In 2010, Jones was arrested for “aggravated DWI and negligent use of a firearm.” Two years later, Jones was arrested for DUI.
Time will tell how the most recent arrest on Jones’ record affects his plans for a return to the Octagon in 2022. But, the incident undoubtedly adds another stain to the former UFC champion’s reputation, and heightens the controversy surrounding one of the most talented UFC fighters of all time.
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