Jon Jones is widely considered by a majority of mixed martial arts to be the greatest ever to grace the octagon. His fighting prowess may be legendary, but his personal life remains questionable. The UFC heavyweight champion recently entered a plea of not guilty.
The charges were two alleged misdemeanors stemming from an alleged incident with drug testing agents. Jones appeared virtually in a New Mexico court on Wednesday, where he faced Judge Brittany Maldonado Malott alongside his attorney, Christopher Dodd. The champ maintained his innocence against both charges.
The first charge is a petty misdemeanor for assault. The second is a misdemeanor for interference with communications. These stem from a March incident at Jones’ home when Drug-Free Sport testing agents had visited Jones for a routine sample collection. One agent, Crystal Martinez, claimed Jones became agitated during the process. She alleged he grabbed her phone and began recording them. Martinez reported feeling “terrified” during the encounter. She feared Jones might strike her.
However, ‘Bones’ has vehemently denied these accusations. He admitted to using some regrettable language but denied any threatening behavior. As per MMA Fighting’s, Damon Martin, the court has set several conditions for Jones’ release pending trial. He must avoid contact with the alleged victims and steer clear of alcohol and illegal drugs. The judge also banned him from possessing firearms or dangerous weapons.
Jon Jones’ fierce rival comes to his aid amid legal troubles
The MMA community is in for an unimaginable surprise. Former UFC double champion Daniel Cormier has come to the defense of his longtime rival, Jon Jones following his most recent run-in with the law.
Cormier, known for his heated exchanges with Jones, took an unexpected stance on his YouTube channel. ‘DC’ labeled the charges against Jones “BS,” shocking many in the MMA community. He painted a different picture of the situation. He suggested that Jones may have been enjoying drinks at home when the testers arrived. ‘DC’ revealed that this was blown out of proportion due to Jones’ past. This is what he stated:
“If I’m being completely honest, the whole time, I kind of thought that deal was BS. I feel like [Jon Jones] was approached when he was home, having some drinks. I know we all rush to judge Jones because of his past issues, but the reality is if a man is at his house, and he’s having some drinks, so what? It’s his right to do that. And if the drug testers come and he might be a little bit tipsy or messed up, maybe the interactions are not as fun or as easy as they may have been on other occasions.”
Daniel Cormier via Daniel Cormier YT
Click on ‘Follow Us’ and get notified of the most viral UFC stories via Google! Follow Us
The former two-division champion acknowledged ‘Bones’ checkered past but urged fairness in this case. He emphasized that being at home should afford Jones some level of privacy. Cormier coming to the defense of Jones is particularly noteworthy given their tumultuous history. The two fought twice in the octagon, with their rivalry being one of the greatest in the promotion’s history.
Also Read: Top MMA Journalist Lays Out Potential Main Event Bouts For UFC’s Remaining PPVs in 2024
