UFC Heavyweight Champion Jon Jones’ latest legal scuffle has seemingly come to a close.
Jones has reached a pre-adjudication agreement this week, getting one step closer to his misdemeanor charges of assault and interference of communications getting dismissed.
New Mexico Judge Asra Elliott approved an agreement on Tuesday that prescribed a four-hour anger management class and a 90-day term of staying out of trouble to Jones. If he is able to fulfill his side of the agreement, the charges brought against him will be officially dismissed.
The agreement potentially closes out a legal battle that initially was sparked back in March following an alleged incident at the heavyweight champ’s house.
Earlier this year, Drug Free Sport employee Crystal Martinez appeared at Jones’ New Mexico residence along with a co-worker to collect a drug test. As part of UFC’s new anti-doping policy which was introduced at the beginning of 2024, agents from Drug Free Sport would begin administering tests on the promotion’s athletes.
The duo initially hoped to obtain urine for a test, but Jones struggled to produce enough for a sample. Jones allegedly became “tense and puffed up” once asked to instead do a blood sample.
It was alleged that Jones took the personal phone of Martinez, which explains why he faced a second misdemeanor interference of communications. After recording a video on the phone of Martinez, which was later reviewed by police, Jones allegedly threatened the duo: “Why you f****** people come so early, do you know what happens to people who come to my house? They end up dead.”
Jones was able to eventually provide a urine sample. While Martinez claimed that she wanted to leave after the alleged threat, she feared Jones would further retaliate due to UFC fighters facing penalties for evading drug testing requests. Jones has notably dealt with a series of failed drug tests in the past, causing an end to two prior title reigns at light heavyweight.
Jones later pled not guilty to the charges and strongly denied the allegations in a social media post.
“I want to address reports about me allegedly threatening a drug tester’s life and taking a phone,” he said via Instagram. “I want to clarify that there is a video showing both drug testers leaving my home after the testing session, where we exchanged a high five and a hug. Although I was frustrated with the unprofessionalism and used profanity out of frustration it ended friendly and amicably, nothing threatening at all.”
The agreement allows Jones to avoid a bench trial just weeks before he makes his long-awaited return to MMA in the main event of UFC 309.
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