Former UFC heavyweight champion Jon Jones has had all the charges dropped after being accused of fleeing the scene of a car accident near his home in Albuquerque.
The fighter was due for a court appearance, but the charges were dropped. On Tuesday, Jones’ attorney, Christopher Dodd, released a statement announcing that misdemeanor charges stemming from a February incident, where Jones was accused of fleeing the scene of an accident, had been dismissed by the state of New Mexico.
Shortly after the news broke, Jon Jones took to social media to release his own statement, thanking the district attorney’s office for their work and acknowledging that his past mistakes may have influenced the court of public opinion.
“I want to begin by thanking the district attorney’s office for carefully reviewing the facts and ultimately vindicating me completely. 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.
“In this case, there was a rush to judgment before any real evidence was gathered. 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. 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.”
Jones recently hung up his UFC gloves after a seven-month hiatus from competition. However, following the announcement of the UFC White House card, he has since reversed his retirement decision and is targeting an octagon return at the event.
Widely regarded as one of the greatest fighters in MMA history, Jon Jones is also one of its most decorated champions. However, his career has been shadowed by controversy. In addition to this latest case, Jones was involved in an altercation with a drug-testing agent in March 2024. His record also includes a domestic violence arrest in 2021, a DUI in 2012, and an infamous hit-and-run in 2015 that cost him his UFC light heavyweight title.
