The Controversies Surrounding UFC Legend Jon Jones

All images: UFC, Police departments

The GOAT of MMA

Jon Jones (United States), the former UFC Light Heavyweight and current Heavyweight champion, is perhaps one of the best MMA fighters in the history of the combat sport. Jones has a record of 27 wins and just one loss.

11 UFC Title Defences, Youngest Champ of Promotion

Till date, Jones has 11 title defences and was the UFC’s youngest champion at age 23. Despite a textbook perfection career in combat sports, Jon Jones’ life outside the octagon is full of controversies. Here’s a look at some of them:

Drug Abuse

During his Light Heavyweight reign, Jones failed a drug test for cocaine in 2015, and the champion announced he entered a rehabilitation facility.

DUI

Jones has been charged for driving under the influence (DUI) twice - first in May 2012 and then in March 2020. He was arrested in both the instances and was later released from jail.

Domestic Violence

In September 2021, Jones’ partner Jessie Moses called the police and said he had put his hands on her. When the police arrived, they found blood on Moses clothes, and she was bleeding from her nose and mouth. He was arrested for felony battery and domestic violence. In December, domestic violence charge was dropped. When it comes to the felony tampering with a police vehicle charge, Jones pleaded no contest and was ordered to pay compensation, and attend anger management therapy.

Hit and Run

In 2015, Jones was arrested for a hit-and-run case, after his vehicle struck a car being driven by a pregnant woman. The woman broke her arm. Jones fled the scene and was later arrested and stripped of his UFC Light Heavyweight title. He pleaded guilty and avoided jail time.

Threat to kill a Drug Administrator

This year, American media reported that Jones threatened to kill a drug administrator. The administrator - a woman - went to Jones’ house to collect a sample from him for the UFC’s new anti-doping programme. The reports said that Jones looked intoxicated and threatened to kill the administrator. However, Jones denied the claim and said the administrator behaved unprofessionally.