UFC heavyweight champion Jon Jones is facing two misdemeanor charges stemming from an encounter with a “terrified” drug-test sample collector earlier this year.
Jones has been charged with assault and interference with communications, according to Bernadillo County (N.M.) online records, and is scheduled for a virtual bond hearing this Wednesday, July 17, at 9:15 a.m. local time (11:15 a.m. ET). MMA Fighting was first to report the news Monday.
Jones could face jail time of less than one year and up to a $500 fine for the assault misdemeanor and up to $1,000 for the interference with communications misdemeanor if convicted.
The charges against Jones were filed more than three months after the alleged incident took place March 30 when a Drug Free Sport International (DFSI) worker visited Jones’ home in Albuquerque to collect a urine sample.
According to an initial complaint filed with Albuquerque Police Department, the worker said Jones was cooperative at first but eventually became verbally combative after he struggled to provide a urine sample, prompting her to suggest a blood sample instead. Jones then threatened to sue, took her phone, and video-recorded the workers. The worker added she believed Jones was intoxicated as he smelled like alcohol.
The worker alleges that Jones put her phone in his pocket, “got into her face,” and said, “Why you f*cking people come so early? Do you know what happens to people who come to my house? They end up dead.” According to the police complaint, the worker was “terrified,” “afraid,” and “felt her heart pounding” after Jones’ thinly veiled death threat.
Jones quickly denied the allegations after reports of the incident surfaced and shared home surveillance video appearing to show a high-five exchange with the worker.
Jones, who turns 37 on July 19, is in the middle of a long layoff as he hasn’t competed since March 2023 when he claimed the vacant UFC heavyweight title with a first-round submission of Ciryl Gane. Jones was set to defend his belt against former champ Stipe Miocic last November at UFC 295, but the fight fell off with three weeks to go after Jones tore his pectoral tendon in training.
Jones vs. Miocic is widely expected to be rebooked and headline UFC 309 this November at Madison Square Garden in New York.
