Jon ‘Bones’ Jones has been stripped of his UFC light heavyweight title after he was arrested on felony hit-and-run charges charges related to a hit-and-run in Albuquerque.
Jones was involved in a hit-and-run, which left the pregnant driver of the other car with a broken arm and wrist. According to Fox Sports, Jones turned himself in to police on Monday and was released on $2,500 bond. He was charged with leaving the scene of an accident, a felony in New Mexico.
UFC president Dana White announced that Jones would be stripped of his title and pulled from doing publicity. The organization later sent a statement Tuesday, noting that, “UFC feels strongly that its athletes must uphold certain standards both in and out of the Octagon. While there is disappointment in the recent charges, the organization remains supportive of Jones as he works through the legal process.”
UFC has picked David Cormier to fight Anthony Johnson for the UFC light heavyweight championship on May 23 in Las Vegas.
According to CBS Sports, the hit-and-run follows Jones’ failed drug test in January and a reported stint in rehab.
"Obviously he's very disappointed," White told Fox Sports Live Tuesday after speaking with Jones. “He's upset, he wanted to go down as one of the greatest ever, but it is what it is. It was the decision we had to make.”
While Jones has not issued a formal statement, he did apologize to “everyone I’ve let down” in a tweet.
screenshot from UFC YouTube Video