What's UFC To Do With Jon Jones?

Or Let Me Work Through My Feelings On This

Mar 27, 2020

Welcome to the latest C’mon Now newsletter. This is the place where I’ll share my thoughts on all the goings-on in MMA. Those thoughts could range from media criticism to advice for folks looking to get into MMA writing to why certain fighters or managers are not good for the sport.

Today I discuss one Jon Jones.

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My knee jerk reaction to the news that UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones had been arrested aggravated DWI, negligent use of firearm was strip him of the belt and suspend him. Stay here with me while I try and work through my thoughts on this.

Pros for suspension:

I. Arrest record

A. Arrested in 2012 for driving under the influence after crashing his Bentley into a pole in N.Y.

1. Pleaded guilty to DUI charges, paid a fine and had his driver’s license suspended for six months

B. Arrested in 2015 for hit-and-run in Albuquerque N.M. Ran through red light, crashed into two vehicles and left scene on foot, turned himself in after warrant issued

1. Pleaded guilty to leaving the scene of an accident. Sentenced to 18 months of supervised probation

C. Given three traffic tickets in 2016 - driving without a license, registration and proof of insurance.

1. Given 24 hours of community service

D. Given five traffic tickets in 2016 - drag racing, exhibition driving, use of modification of exhaust systems, not maintaining traffic lanes and the improper display of a registration plate

1. Pleaded guilty to unlawful use of modification of exhaust systems and improper display of registration plate. Given a 90-day deferred sentence and had to complete aggressive driving school, comply with any previous driving restrictions, complete 60 hours of community service and pay a fine of $143.

E. Charged with battery in July 2019 after he allegedly slapped a waitress in a strip club in her genital area and put her in a chokehold

1. Pleaded no contest to one count of misdemeanor disorderly conduct and received 90-days probation.

II. Past practice

A. UFC stripped Jones of light heavyweight title one day after he turned himself in for hit-and-run and suspended him indefinitely

III. Other incidents

A. August 2014 Jones gets in a shoving match with Daniel Cormier at MGM Grand Hotel in Las Vegas

1. Jones fined $50,000 and ordered to complete 40 hours of community service

B. June 2016 Jones fails out-of-competition drug test for banned estrogen blockers clomiphene and letrozole

1. Jones suspended for one year

C. July 2017 Jones fails in-competition drug test for Turinabol, stripped of title received 15-month suspension during arbitration

Cons against suspension:

I. ??

Details of arrest this week:

Jones was arrested for aggravated DWI (driving while intoxicated) as well as negligent use of a firearm, possession of an open container and driving with no proof of insurance per MMA Fighting.

UFC Statement on this week’s arrest:

UFC is aware of the situation regarding Jon Jones in Albuquerque early this morning. The organization has been in contact with Jones’ management team and is currently gathering information. (per MMA Fighting)

Initial Thoughts:

Like I said above, my knee jerk reaction was strip and suspend and I’m still leaning that way. Had this been another fighter, with a clean record and no title, I would have a bit more thoughtful in my assessment, but I still think a suspension would have been warranted. Had this been a UFC champ with a clean record I still think I would have leaned suspension.

UFC Code of Conduct:

Jones allegedly violated at least three items mentioned on UFC

1. Criminal offenses

2. Conduct that imposes inherent danger to the safety or well being of another person

3. Conduct that undermines or puts at risk the integrity and reputation of the UFC

Violations of code of conduct can result in fines, suspension or release

Past Practice:

Jones was stripped of title and fined before he went to trial for the hit-and-run

More Thoughts:

Jones history is not good. He has also shown little or no remorse for his actions.

Final Thoughts:

Jones can’t seem to stay out of trouble. Hopefully the legal system will give him a wake-up call if these allegations turn out to be true and he goes to trial. Even if he pleads out on these charges, Jones should not escape repercussions. If that happens again, history tells us, he’ll be back in the news for something else of this nature.

Now as far as the UFC. With UFC president Dana White doing everything he can to look like a villain for trying to make UFC 249 happen during a global pandemic, the UFC needs some good press. Letting Jones off the hook is not good PR especially with so little happening in the sports world. Good PR is not a reason to act, but we are talking about the UFC here and it knows its getting side-eyed for its UFC 249 handling. Jones getting hit with a suspension, stripped of the title and being fined, could move the attention away from UFC 249 for a bit.

Outside of PR I do think Jones needs to be stripped, suspended and fined. The DUI combined with the (alleged) firing of the gun can’t be ignored. That‘s not just Jones endangering himself, but others. That’s unacceptable. That can’t be answered with, well, let’s see what happens at trial, especially if you look at Jones’ past. He’s not someone who can be trusted and at what point does the UFC, hey, this guy is making us look like a bunch of fools?

So, there you go, Jones needs to face repercussions. The question now becomes is the income he brings in enough for the UFC to look the other way and put the onus on the courts.

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