UFC fighter Jon Jones arrested for violating probation

MANILA, Philippines – After being cited for 5 traffic infractions in Albuquerque, New Mexico, former UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones was arrested for violating his probation.

Online arrest records show that Jones was taken into custody on Wednesday, March 30 (Manila time) and was booked at the Metropolitan Detention Center.

Jones is currently serving an 18-month supervised probation sentence, which was part of a plea agreement that he signed in September 2015 stemming from a much-publicized hit-and-run incident. 

Celebrity news website TMZ first reported Jones’s arrest, citing that a judge issued a warrant after the 28-year-old fighter was ticketed for drag racing, having a modified exhaust, swerving between lanes, exhibitionist driving and obscuring his license plates’s registration.

Body-cam footage of Jones’ traffic stop showed a heated exchange of words between him and the responding law enforcement officer as he denied the charges against him.

Jones is scheduled to face Daniel Cormier in a light heavyweight championship rematch at the UFC 197 pay-per-view event on April 24 (April 23 in US), but it is unclear if he will have to be removed from the fight card.

“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,” UFC said in a press statement.

According to a report from MMAJunkie.com, Jones’ PR and crisis management firm EAG Sports confidently asserted that the incident will not hinder their client’s title fight next month.

“We don’t anticipate this hindering the fight. Jon and his legal team are taking this very seriously and will let the legal process play itself out. We are confident that Jon will be released once the facts of this case are explained and reviewed,” EAG Sports stated. – Rappler.com