Jon Jones has found himself mired in legal trouble as the MMA sphere awaits his return to the Octagon. The undisputed heavyweight champion has been out of action since tearing his pectoral tendon ahead of his UFC 295 clash with Stipe Miocic. While the UFC has already got an interim heavyweight champion, Tom Aspinall, ‘Bones’ recently indicated that his return is set for November 9 at Madison Square Garden, in a re-booking of his previous clash against Miocic instead of a title unification bout.

However, according to latest reports the UFC star’s comeback plans may face a set-back with the developments in Jones’s case involving an incident at his home with a drug-testing agent. Jones has been charged with two misdemeanors which have now cast a shadow over his comeback plans due to the possibility of him facing jail time. Here’s a look at all we know about the situation.

Jon Jones faces charges on alleged incident with ‘Drug Free Sport’ testers

Jon Jones was accused of assault and making threats to a drug testing agent who had visited his home to collect a sample as part of the UFC’s anti-doping program. According to the initial police report filed on April 5, Crystal Martinez, an agent from ‘Drug Free Sport’, visited Jones’s home on March 30, accompanied by a co-worker.

While ‘Bones’ was initially co-operative with the agents, the situation escalated when Jones was unable to provide a urine sample, and became “agitated” when he was offered the chance to take a blood test instead. Martinez also alleged that Jones threatened her by stating, “why you f****** people come so early, do you know what happens to people who come to my house … they end up dead.”

The report by Martinez also claimed that Jones had questioned her and her co-worker about their finances as he stated that he would be suing them. ‘Bones’ was also alleged to have taken a hold of Martinez’s phone to start recording the drug testing agents.  Now, in a recent update, Jones has been charged with two misdemeanors: assault and interference with communications. In a report confirmed by MMA Fighting, Bernalillo County Court representatives stated that ‘Bones’s virtual bond hearing is scheduled to take place on July 17 in New Mexico.

If the court finds him guilty on the charges, Jones could be looking at a spending a time of less than a year in jail and fines totaling up to $1,500, for both charges. During his court appearance on July 17, he will be informed of the charges and asked to enter a plea. The judge will set conditions for his release while the case is pending. A bench trial will be then scheduled within 30 to 45 days following his plea.

Jon Jones’ legal battle marks another chapter in the fighter’s controversial career that has seen him draw attention for his actions both inside and outside the Octagon. However, in his statement following the incident, Jones has leveled accusations of “unprofessionalism” against the drug testers and denied the veracity of Martinez’s story!

Jones denies incident and lashes out against “baseless accusations”

Following the initial reports of the incident, Jon Jones had taken to social media to address the conversation surrounding his alleged assault on a drug-testing agent. In a statement released on X, Jones stated, “I was recently visited by testers while I was celebrating a birthday and taking a nap. Upon waking up, I was caught off guard by the unprofessionalism and protocol by one of the testers which caused frustration leading me to use some profanity I regret.”

Jones also denied taking Martinez’s phone. He stated he mistakenly picked it up, thinking it was his, and then returned it to the counter where he’d found it. He further went on to state, “I want to assure you that I will vigorously defend myself against these baseless accusations. The truth is, the incident simply did not occur.”

In conclusion, as the MMA community eagerly awaits his return to the Octagon, the charges against Jon Jones could significantly impact his comeback plans. With the bond hearing and subsequent trial being a crucial factor for his November return, it remains to be seen if ‘Bones’ steps into the Octagon at Madison Square Garden against Stipe Miocic! What are your thoughts on Jon Jones’s latest legal troubles? Let us know in the comments below!