Updated at 15.00
JON JONES HAS been released on bail after turning himself in to police in Albuquerque.
The mixed martial arts star was arrested last night on a felony charge of leaving the scene of an accident involving death or personal injuries. Jones was released following just under three hours in police custody after he posted bail of $2,500, MMAFighting.com reports.
It relates to an incident that took place in the New Mexico city on Sunday morning, in which a pregnant female motorist was injured in a three-car collision. The woman suffered a broken arm.
Jones, the Ultimate Fighting Championship’s top pound-for-pound fighter, allegedly drove through a red light and struck the woman’s car. Jones is suspected of leaving the scene on foot.
A marijuana pipe and marijuana were found in the vehicle — a rented car — which is believed to have been driven by the UFC’s light-heavyweight champion. Jones was identified at the scene by an off-duty police officer. According to witnesses, the 27-year-old MMA fighter returned to the vehicle to grab a handful of money, before fleeing again.
Jones — who was hit with a six-month driving suspension in 2012, having pled guilty to a DUI charge after crashing into a pole — is due to defend his UFC light-heavyweight title in just over three weeks’ time (Saturday, 23 May) against Anthony Johnson at UFC 187 in Las Vegas.
The UFC has already made a statement to acknowledge the situation, but no comment has been made as of yet in relation to whether or not the bout will still go ahead.
Speaking to UFC Tonight, Johnson said his preparations for the fight are continuing: “Nothing has changed. I’m still training hard, staying focused, staying on the grind. Like I said, whoever they give me, whatever they throw my way, I’ll be ready no matter what.
“I only want to fight for the title. I feel like I’ve worked my way up to being the number one contender, and I plan on staying that way. Unless it’s for a title, I don’t want to be like Vitor and wait a year. But if I have to, I will.”
The situation is also being closely monitored by the Nevada Athletic Commission, who say there’s not enough information available yet to determine if Jones will be licensed to compete in Las Vegas next month.
“It would all depend on the facts of the case,” NAC executive director Bob Bennett told MMAFighting.com. “We’d be keeping an eye on any unarmed combatant alleged to be in an incident such as this.”
Bennett also confirmed that Jones has passed several out-of-competition drug tests with regards to his upcoming fight, although those tests would not reveal if Jones had been using any recreational drugs.
Jones tested positive for cocaine in an out-of-competition test before his last bout — against Daniel Cormier in January — but he was mistakenly tested for recreational drugs at that point. Due to the fact that recreational drugs are not prohibited out of competition, Jones wasn’t penalised by the Commission. However, he was fined $25,000 by the UFC.
Meanwhile, UFC commentator — and former title contender — Kenny Florian has told FOX Sports that he believes Jones should have his UFC world title taken away.
Florian said: “I think stripping him of the title is appropriate if, of course, these allegations are true. I don’t think he should be allowed to fight Anthony Johnson. He needs to go and get help.
“I think that the UFC is probably most likely to find a replacement for Jon Jones at this point, and I think that’s probably what’s going to happen if these allegations are true. He has so much talent, but there’s a lot of immaturity with that talent.”
– First published at 10.36
