Police in Albuquerque, New Mexico, call UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones a suspect in a hit-and-run accident that sent a pregnant woman to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
“The Albuquerque Police Department is actively seeking UFC Fighter Jon Jones for questioning in regards to his possible involvement in a hit-and-run accident, near the intersection of Juan Tabo and Southern, in Southeast Albuquerque early this morning, April 26, 2015,” the New Mexico city reported on its website. “A pregnant female in her 20s, who was the driver of a separate vehicle, was taken to a local hospital for minor injuries. Officers attempted to contact Mr. Jones at his residence Sunday evening, but were unsuccessful. We have also reached out to his lawyer, but as of now, have not heard back.”
The UFC responded to the alleged incident involving their marquee fighter in a brief statement posted to their website.
“We are aware that the Albuquerque Police Department is interested in speaking to Jon Jones regarding his possible involvement in a motor vehicle accident,” a statement posted to the UFC’s website announced. “We are in the process of gathering facts and will reserve further comment until more information is available.”
But above the link to that statement appeared another statement of sorts: Jon Jones’s face and fist promoting a UFC-themed video game in an EA Sports advertisement at UFC.com. Below that the name “Jon Jones” topped the UFC’s pound-for-pound rankings. The site’s schedule of events still lists Jones defending his title on May 23 against Anthony “Rumble” Johnson at UFC 187.
In other words, Jones remains the star outshining all other stars on the UFC roster, the promotion’s top draw, its chief moneymaker. Though the lanky wrestler appears untouchable in the octagon, boasting eight straight title defenses against such formidable foes as Daniel Cormier, Lyoto Machida, Alexander Gustafsson, and Quinton “Rampage” Jackson, Jones has faced career-jeopardizing challenges outside of the arena.
He popped positive for cocaine on an out-of-competition drug test administered a month prior to his January UFC 182 blockbuster fight against Daniel Cormier. Three years ago, police in Binghamton, New York, arrested Jones for suspected DUI after the fighting phenom smashed his Bentley into a pole early on a Saturday morning.
When Breitbart Sports questioned Jones during a December conference call about his sketchy story that Nike had dropped him from an endorsement deal because of a press-conference scuffle with Daniel Cormier, the 27-year-old champ, who subsequently signed with UFC sponsor Reebok, admitted that he did not speak honestly.
“The truth of the matter is I did not get dropped by Nike,” Jones admitted. “It was a mutual thing, something that we had discussed months before the actual fight.”
Apart from enabling him to sign with UFC sponsor Reebok, the corporate divorce–and the cover story explaining it–fueled Jones’s argument for a lesser punishment in front of the Nevada State Athletic Commission for the impromptu, unsanctioned fight with Cormier in a casino lobby. The commission ultimately grabbed $50,000 from him and ordered community service. Jones told Breitbart Sports on the conference call that “in front of the commission I definitely worded it wrong.”
After his hard-fought, impressive victory over Cormier in the cage, Jones entered rehab. But he left the next day, soon thereafter attending the New England Patriots-Indianapolis Colts AFC Championship Game that featured his younger and older brothers on opposing squads.
The exciting, athletic unorthodox striker and smart strategist, who has not tasted a legitimate defeat in 22 fights, may see his championship run conclude at the hands of the same man who ended predecessor Mauricio “Shogun” Rua’s title stint, Daniel Cormier’s belt-holding hopes, and Chael Sonnen’s dreams of UFC gold.
The champion now knows a truth long understood by the rest of the light-heavyweight division: Jon Jones is a tough man to overcome.
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