Former Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Heavyweight and Light Heavyweight champion Jon Jones got some rare good news today: his recent misdemeanor charges — leaving the scene of an accident (no great bodily harm or death) and use of a telephone to terrify, intimidate, threaten, harass, annoy, or offend — were officially dismissed (details here).
For Jones, who has spent the better part of his legendary career battling issues outside the cage as much as inside of it, this marks a small
but meaningful victory.
“Bones” wasted no time reacting, taking to social media to thank the district attorney’s office and reflect on how the case unfolded.
“I want to begin by thanking the district attorney’s office for carefully reviewing the facts and ultimately vindicating me completely,” Jones wrote. “I have always believed in the importance of truth and fairness, and I am grateful that the evidence spoke for itself. The simple fact is this: I was never there. I never even left my house that night, and all the evidence proved that.”
Jones went on to explain how the accusations derailed what was supposed to be a celebratory moment in his career.
“In this case, there was a rush to judgment before any real evidence was gathered,” Jones wrote. “I understand that, in the court of public opinion, the allegations may have seemed believable, especially given my past mistakes. But by the time these claims were made public, I had just retired from competition, and that moment was stolen from me by someone who made false accusations to avoid a DWI and any real accountability.”
“I sincerely hope that this individual is held responsible by Albuquerque’s law enforcement. They not only disrupted my retirement but also made our police department appear negligent in the process,” Jones concluded. “It is deeply troubling that, in today’s world, a single false accusation can take so much away from someone before any evidence is even considered.”
For a fighter who has dealt with a laundry list of legal issues — from DUIs, to a hit-and-run in 2015, to a 2021 arrest in Las Vegas on charges of battery domestic violence — today’s dismissal feels like unfamiliar territory. Instead of another setback, Jones finally caught a break.
Now, with the case behind him, the 37-year-old is turning his attention back to the fight game. Jones says he wants to come out of his brief two-week retirement to compete at the historic UFC White House card on July 4, 2026. The event is already shaping up to be one of the most ambitious and politically charged cards in UFC history.
Still, UFC CEO Dana White has all but shut the door on Jones appearing, bluntly telling reporters the chances of “Bones” fighting at the White House are “a billion to one.”
Maybe Jones’ innocence in this latest case will change the UFC head honcho’s mind?
Never say never.
