UFC legend Jon Jones, widely considered one of the greatest fighters in mixed martial arts history, has announced his retirement from the sport. The news, confirmed by UFC CEO Dana White on Saturday, June 22, signals the end of an unpredictable career marked by unparalleled success inside the Octagon and persistent controversy outside of it.
Adding another chapter to that controversial history, Jones’s retirement announcement coincides with reports that he is facing a new criminal charge in New Mexico stemming from an alleged incident several months prior.
New Criminal Charge Filed
Reports indicate that a criminal summons was filed against Jones on June 17 for a misdemeanor charge of leaving the scene of an accident without serious injury or death. The charge relates to an alleged traffic incident that occurred on February 21 or 24. Jones has been ordered to appear for a bond arraignment in court on July 24.
According to police reports detailed in court records, an officer responding to a car crash in February found a woman in the passenger seat who appeared significantly intoxicated and was partially undressed. The woman reportedly identified Jon Jones as the driver of the vehicle and stated that he had fled the scene on foot immediately following the crash.
During a phone call the woman made, a police service aide spoke to the person on the other end, believed to be Jones. This individual reportedly sounded heavily intoxicated and allegedly made statements implying they could orchestrate lethal force through others against the aide. A police officer later spoke to the same person, who reportedly made similar allusions to violence but avoided confirming their identity as Jon Jones.
When questioned by police days later, Jones offered a different account. He claimed the woman had left his house intoxicated earlier and called him after the crash. He stated the person she handed the phone to used “unprofessional language,” leading him to doubt the legitimacy of the call. However, the woman’s statement to police indicated she had consumed alcohol and mushrooms at Jones’s house and remembered needing to change clothes there, with her next memory being the crash scene and Jon Jones being the last person driving the car. Police records also show Jones called the woman’s phone 13 times between the crash and the following morning.
It remains unclear why the criminal charge related to the February incident was filed several months later in June, coincidentally just before his retirement announcement.
Heavyweight Reign and Aspinall Controversy
Jones’s retirement concludes a period of uncertainty in the UFC heavyweight division. After winning the vacant title against Ciryl Gane in March 2023, Jones was expected to face former champion Stipe Miocic, a fight that was delayed due to injury. Meanwhile, Tom Aspinall captured the interim heavyweight title and became the clear contender for a unification bout.
Despite repeated calls from Aspinall and the MMA community, a fight date with Jones never materialized. UFC CEO Dana White had publicly stated that Jones had accepted a deal to fight Aspinall, urging fans to disregard social media speculation. However, Jones’s public activities, including coaching a reality show in Russia and traveling, led many, including MMA journalists, to accuse him of “ducking” the challenging matchup with Aspinall. Some interpreted Jones’s social media posts and even his “wall of victory” with seemingly no space for a future fight poster as potential signs he wasn’t planning another bout.
With Jones’s retirement now official, Tom Aspinall was promoted to the undisputed UFC Heavyweight Champion the same day.
A Career Defined by Controversy
The timing of this new legal trouble alongside a major career decision is unfortunately characteristic of Jon Jones’s tenure in MMA. His first reign as UFC light heavyweight champion infamously ended after a hit-and-run incident involving a pregnant woman, where he also initially fled the scene.
Throughout his career, Jones has faced numerous controversies, including multiple failed drug tests, contract disputes, and various legal issues. While his performances inside the cage solidified his status as arguably the greatest fighter ever, these repeated incidents led to an intermittent presence in the UFC and often overshadowed his athletic achievements.
His retirement, announced amidst a new criminal charge stemming from yet another car-related incident, provides a fittingly turbulent conclusion to a career that consistently walked the line between unparalleled dominance and significant personal turmoil.
