The number one pound-for-pound MMA fighter in the world, Jon Jones, is probably experiencing the most frustrating deja vu. After a video of him trading barbs with a police officer went viral, Jones has turned himself in following the issue of an arrest warrant. Here’s the video:
This was prompted because the former UFC Light Heavyweight Champion was cited for drag racing which meant a violation of his probation. Jones is serving an 18-month supervised probation in the aftermath of a hit-and-run case in April last year, which left a pregnant woman injured.
‘Bones’ was pulled over by an officer after he allegedly sped off after a red light at a signal. According to Jones, he merely revved his Corvette in acknowledgement to a fan who had pulled up alongside him at the red light.
Vincent Ward, Jones’ attorney, was quick to point out that his client’s case is not untenable, saying, "For the police to be correct, the judge is going to have to find Jon revving his engine constitutes drag racing. He wasn't speeding, he was not driving recklessly. All Jon did was rev his engine to acknowledge a fan.”
The UFC released an official statement as well, according to wresltinginc.com:
“UFC is aware that Jon Jones turned himself into the Albuquerque Police Department this morning for a potential probation violation stemming from a traffic stop last week. UFC has been in touch with Jones' legal team and will have no further comment until the organization has had appropriate time to gather necessary information."
Jones is scheduled to headline UFC 197 on April 23rd at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, in a bout against Daniel Cormier for the Light Heavyweight Championship he was stripped of following last year’s scandal.
At the time of the incident, Jones was supposed to defend his belt against Anthony Johnson but following it, a match for the vacant title between Johnson and Cormier was officialized. Cormier, who had lost his title match to Jones earlier in 2015, submitted Johnson to be crowned the new king of the UFC’s 205 lbs division, the first in five years.
Jones, considered by many to be one of the greatest fighters of all time, became the youngest UFC champion in history when he defeated Brazilian legend Shogun Rua at UFC 128 in 2011.
