Jon Jones: UFC Champion Reportedly Arrested for DUI

UPDATE: May 29, 3:54 p.m. ET: Jon Jones entered a guilty plea to DWI charges in court on Tuesday morning, according to Lindsay Nielsen of WBNG 12 News in Binghamton, N.Y. 

He was arrested last weekend after a crash in Binghamton and, on Tuesday, agreed upon a plea bargain with the DA's office in Binghamton City Court. The crash occurred on May 19, when Jones' Bentley struck a telephone pole. 

The MMA champion was cited on an improper turn and for deviating from a direct course, but both of those charges were dismissed. According to the plea deal, however, Jones plead guilty to driving while intoxicated, Nielsen reports. 

A sentencing will be held on June 19, and for now, Jones will be issued a fine, will have his driver's license suspended and will be required to undergo an alcohol abuse and dependency assessment. 

The joyride through the UFC for champion Jon Jones came to a crashing halt early Saturday morning, when he was reportedly arrested for DUI after crashing his car into a pole. TMZ is reporting about the arrest and accident:

"

UFC Light Heavyweight champ Jon "Bones" Jones was arrested early this morning for DUI after he totaled his Bentley in upstate New York...TMZ has learned. Law enforcement sources tell TMZ...Jones was involved in an accident at around 5:00 AM in Binghamton, NY. We're told the car -- which Jones crashed into a pole -- was totaled and cops arrested Jones on the scene for DUI.

"

Jones is not only one of the most popular fighters in the UFC right now, but he is also coming off arguably his biggest career win over former friend Rashad Evans. With all of that momentum, it would be devastating to let an incident like this tarnish his flourishing career.

What It Means

While the immediate impact of this incident will be devastating in terms of public relations, this could be the wakeup call the young fighter needed. With so much instant success, trying times tend to build character.

The talk of any injuries wasn’t mentioned, but that would be a major concern for Jones and the UFC after a collision with a pole. If Jones is found to be medically cleared, he will have to begin a public road to recovery.

What’s Next

This is the time for the UFC to go into full damage control with their popular champion and get him into a recovery process. With the fans wanting their star healthy and fighting, Dana White and the UFC must get the star into a program that can help assure this situation won’t happen again.

After Jones pays his debt to society for driving under the influence, he should go on a campaign against drinking and driving to help clean up his public image. If he takes responsibility for his actions and handles this like a man, he will come out of this incident more mature.


Check back for more on Mixed Martial Arts as it comes, and check out Bleacher Report’s UFC Page to get your fill of all things UFC/MMA. For more on MMA/UFC, check out Ring Rust Radio for all of the hot topics.

Follow @Donald_Wood