UFC champ Jon Jones to take anger management to resolve assault case

UFC heavyweight champion Jon "Bones" Jones will attend four hours of anger management classes to resolve two misdemeanor charges after he acted hostile at his New Mexico home during a drug test. The charges—assault, classified as a petty misdemeanor, and interference with communication, a misdemeanor—will be dismissed provided that Jones completes the anger management classes and adheres to the law over the next 90 days. Originally, a bench trial was set to begin Tuesday before a New Mexico judge. However, both the prosecutor and Jones' defense attorney announced at the start of the virtual proceeding that a resolution had been reached. Jones had previously pleaded not guilty to the charges in July, describing the allegations as baseless when they first emerged earlier this year. When is Jon Jones' Next Match against Stipe Miocic? Jones expressed his frustration on social media, criticizing the professionalism of the drug testers and admitting to cursing out of irritation. Regarded as one of the top fighters in mixed martial arts history, Jones captured the heavyweight title in March 2023, securing a first-round submission victory over Ciryl Gane. This fight marked his return after a three-year hiatus and his debut in the heavyweight division, adding to his legacy as a record-holding light heavyweight champion with 14 title defenses. Looking ahead, Jones is set to face Stipe Miocic at UFC 309 on November 16 at Madison Square Garden in New York. The bout was initially scheduled for last year, but a pectoral injury forced Jones to postpone. Why was Jon Jones on trial? Jones has had a tumultuous past, including a one-year suspension in 2016 for a failed drug test. Additionally, a 2017 victory over Daniel Cormier was overturned to a no-contest following another positive drug test. Jones has since argued that, under revised standards introduced by the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency in 2019, he would have passed those tests. The current situation arose when a woman from Drug Free Sport International, the organization responsible for conducting drug tests for professional athletes, reported an incident to Albuquerque police in April. She accused Jones of threatening her during the testing process at his home. How Serious Are The Allegations? According to the criminal complaint, the woman initially found Jones to be cooperative but stated that he became agitated as the interaction progressed. In his defense, Jones told police that he had apologized for swearing at the woman and her colleague after the test. He also provided video footage from what appeared to be a home surveillance system, showing a moment where he and the woman exchanged a high-five before her departure, asserting that neither tester appeared frightened during the encounter. This article contains additional reporting from The Associated Press.