Jon Jones charged by US court days before | Boxing News

Jon Jones was charged with fleeing the scene of an accident by a US court just days before retiring from the UFC. The shock announcement was made by Dana White in an explosive press convention on Saturday night time. Jones had been extensively tipped to face Tom Aspinall in a heavyweight showdown but the American determined against it, as an alternative opting to grasp up his gloves.

It means Aspinall will change into the UFC’s undisputed heavyweight champion with Jones no longer lively. Earlier this week, he known as White and different officers to clarify that he wouldn’t be combating again. He will depart a lasting legacy as one of the best icons the UFC has ever seen, profitable 28 of his 29 skilled bouts.

Just days before confirming his retirement, Jones was charged with fleeing the scene of a car accident in the US state of New Mexico. Court information show the alleged incident, which triggered no great bodily hurt or death, occurred in late February.

The police report states that a lady was discovered in the passenger seat of one of the vehicles concerned in the accident. The report provides that she was ‘exhibiting indicators of vital intoxication and missing clothes from the waist down’.

The lady is claimed to have informed police that Jones was the driving force before calling the UFC icon. A police aide stated the individual on the telephone, who they believed to be Jones, ‘made statements implying his capability to make use of deadly pressure through third events’.

Jones didn’t immediately establish himself during the telephone call, in which he allegedly made ‘allusions to violence’. Police also claimed that he ‘appeared to be closely intoxicated’ during the dialog.

In a police interview, Jones stated the girl discovered in the car was intoxicated when she left his home earlier that day. He claimed that she phoned him immediately after the crash and that he ended up talking to a police officer.

Jones stated the officer ‘immediately opened the dialog with unprofessional language, which led him to doubt the legitimacy of the person’s declare’.

The lady, meanwhile, claimed that she drank alcohol and took mushrooms at Jones’ home, including that her ‘next recollection was being at the scene of a visitors accident’.

The bombshell information arrived on the identical day Jones confirmed that he can be retiring from the UFC, with the 37-year-old posting an emotional assertion on X (previously Twitter).

He wrote: “This decision comes after a lot of reflection and I want to take a moment to express my deepest gratitude for the journey I’ve experienced over the years.

“Becoming the youngest UFC champion in historical past, defending my title against some of the best fighters in the world, and sharing unforgettable moments with followers across the globe, these are recollections I’ll cherish ceaselessly.

“I’ve faced incredible highs and some tough lows, but every challenge has taught me something valuable and made me stronger, both as a fighter and as a person.”