Veteran UFC commentator Jon Anik recently told ‘Inside Fighting’ that he would consider Tom Aspinall’s upcoming fight at UFC 304 an official defense of the undisputed heavyweight title if the Brit manages to get the win. By the look of things, the UFC 304 co-main event just might end up being an official title fight, if Jon Jones‘ legal woes take a turn for the worse!

The reigning undisputed heavyweight champion is currently entangled in legal issues that could affect his long-awaited comeback to the Octagon. The situation has captured the attention of the MMA community, with many wondering if Jones will be stripped of the title soon! If it does happen, this will be the fourth time in his career that the UFC star will have been stripped of a title. Let’s see how things are shaping up at the moment.

Jon Jones pleads not guilty to charges, finds solace in past rival 

Jon Jones, the UFC undisputed heavyweight champion, has been embroiled in a legal issue stemming from a pair of misdemeanor charges leveled against him. The incident in question occurred on March 30, when two ‘Drug-Free Sport’ agents arrived at his home to collect samples for the UFC’s anti-doping protocols.

Crystal Martinez, one of the agents involved, alleged that Jones became hostile and “appeared agitated” when asked for a blood test, as he was unable to provide a urine sample at the time. Martinez further claimed that Jones had threatened to sue the agents and allegedly took her phone to record the situation.

During the recent virtual hearing in New Mexico, Jones pled not guilty to a petty misdemeanor for assault and another misdemeanor charge for interfering with communications. Conditions for his continued release have been set and will remain in place pending a bench trial.

Jones has been ordered by the court to avoid violating any laws, possessing firearms or weapons of any kind, and consuming alcohol or illegal substances. ‘Bones’ must also notify the court of any address changes, maintain contact with his attorney, and strictly avoid any contact with the alleged victims. The bench trial, the next step in the proceedings, is scheduled for August 22.

Notably, Jones has been out of action due to a pectoral tendon tear that he suffered before UFC 295 in 2023 ahead of his clash against Stipe Miocic. This led to Tom Aspinall securing the interim title with a spectacular knockout win over Sergei Pavlovich at the same event. Jones, however, has been dismissive of Aspinall as a challenger, violating the norms of an interim belt. Now, he could be facing jail time if the case does not go in his favor. If this happens, then the UFC will have no choice but to strip him of his title. But while he deals with the swirl of complications stemming from the legal proceedings, he has found support from a very unlikely source!

There’s no love lost between Jon Jones and Chael Sonnen despite the two going back-and-forth on social media multiple times over the years. The former light heavyweights had faced off against each other at UFC 159 in 2013, where Jones walked away victorious by finishing Sonnen via TKO.

However, in a recent video on his YouTube channel, Sonnen surprisingly defended his rival’s actions as he stated, “I think we all understand that right, we would all understand if somebody comes to your house and they’re banging on the door and you’re in the middle of the day and you got to jump up and you to go do this drug test and that’s all part of it.” Sonnen also shared that while it may seem like he is defending Jones’s “excuse”, he is just highlighting the fact that the story might have different perspectives depending on whose side you’re listening to.

But, unlike Sonnen, many others would be quick to point their fingers at Jones. After all, this is not the first time he has created trouble.

Jones has a lengthy legal history

If you didn’t know Jon Jones, would you believe that he lost his title three times in just three years? Well, unfortunately, that’s how it’s been.

He was stripped off his 205 lbs title for the first time in 2015 and was suspended indefinitely after getting involved in a hit-and-run case. ‘Bones’ had reportedly run a red light, hitting a car being driven by a pregnant woman. Thankfully, there were no casualties, but the MMA veteran was arrested and pleaded guilty to fleeing the spot, which is a fourth-degree felony. He narrowly avoided jail time. Later, on the Joe Rogan Experience, he addressed the situation, saying, “I had no clue that it was a pregnant woman, by the time I hit [the car] I was over a fence in about eight seconds. It all happened so fast and I knew I smelt like alcohol, I just thought the person that I hit had to be ok because I was ok.”

Not even a year had passed, and Jon Jones was stripped off his light heavyweight title again in November, 2016, for failing a drug test. Speaking about the incident, UFC President Dana White had said at the time: “Jon Jones has blown it in every way shape and form a guy with that much talent can blow it. Greatest talent ever and the biggest screw-up ever.” He was stripped of his title again next year.

Jones reclaimed the light heavyweight title from Daniel Cormier in the UFC 214 (July 29, 2017) fight. However, he was stripped off of it after he facing a “potential Anti-Doping Policy violation stemming from an in-competition sample collected following his weigh-in on July 28, 2017,” as per UFC’s official statement. Adding to this growing list, he was once arrested just hours after a Hall of Fame induction owing to domestic violence and vehicle tampering allegations, involving fiancee Jessie Moses. Asked about the arrest, White had said, “This guy’s got a lot of demons, man, a lot of demons.”

As of now, Jones recently indicated that he is planning on making his return this November to finally face off against Miocic in Madison Square Garden. But how possible is that? So far, the UFC has not released any statements regarding the incident. It remains to be seen how the legal proceedings turn out after the upcoming trial and whether Jones will be able to make his planned return to competition. What do you think will happen? Let us know in the comments below!