THE UFC HAS suspended its biggest star, Jon ‘Bones’ Jones, and stripped him of his light-heavyweight title following his arrest on hit-and-run charges.
Jones was suspended indefinitely, the organisation said, following a meeting with UFC President Dana White, CEO Lorenzo Fertitta and COO Lawrence Epstein on Tuesday.
The 27-year-old was due to defend his title against Anthony Johnson at UFC 187 in Las Vegas next month. Johnson will now fight Daniel Cormier for the vacant title in the main event on 23 May.
“Got a lot of soul searching to do,” Jones tweeted. “Sorry to everyone I’ve let down.”
Whoops!
We couldn't find this Tweet
Jones was arrested on Monday night following alleged involvement in a hit-and-run collision in which a pregnant woman suffered a fractured arm.
He appeared in a New Mexico court on Tuesday for his first appearance on a felony charge of leaving the scene of an accident involving personal injury, and was released on bail.
“UFC announced that it has suspended Jon Jones indefinitely and stripped him of the light heavyweight title as a result of violations of the organisation’s Athlete Code of Conduct Policy,” a statement read.
“Jones was recently arrested in Albuquerque, [New Mexico] on a felony charge of leaving the scene of an accident involving personal injury.
“As a result of the charge and other violations of the Athlete Code of Conduct Policy, the organisation believes it is best to allow Jones time to focus on his pending legal matters.
“UFC feels strongly that its athletes must uphold certain standards both in and out of the Octagon. While there is disappointment in the recent charges, the organisation remains supportive of Jones as he works through the legal process.”
Cormier, who lost to Jones by unanimous decision at UFC 182 in January, said: ”Make no mistake about it, this is a sad day for our sport.
“One of the best fighters of all time has found himself in trouble again. It sucks.
“Despite our differences, I truly wish the best for Jon and his family, and I know he can get through this,” he continued in a statement provided to MMAFighting.com.
But in life, opportunity knocks, and it’s up to you to answer the door. So as I’ve done time and again, I’m answering that door.
“I will be in Vegas on May 23 — you can count on me — I will win the belt, and then when Jon is ready to return, I will be happy to give him a shot at my belt.”
Johnson tweeted: “Best of luck with everything bro. Regardless of everything you are still the greatest light heavyweight champion of all time!”
Mike Ditka is an idiot. His response was entirely predictable.
Unsure where this protest is going. Aside from anything else, it’s been fun to see the likes of Ditka, Jerry Jones etc. get their knickers in a twist.
It really is quite scary how jingoistic some old people in America are. It’s a feckin national anthem lads, get over yourselves. There are things bigger than you or it.
Kapernick is fast turning into an absolute hero. There’s nothing wrong with being proud of your country and it’s military, but putting a flag and some quaint old song ahead of people’s lives has no place in today’s society.
Think the whole thing a class issue rather than a racial issue. The entire protest is a load of codswallop.
@ET PHONE HOME: Class and race go hand in hand in America
Facts please Stephen.
Not your opinion!
It’s marked as an opinion piece…
Hi Eddie,
A) It’s an opinion piece as Redzone has been for five years now.
B) It’s clearly marked as opinion piece.
C) As for facts, Keith Lamont Scott was shot dead by a Charlotte-Mecklenburg police officer, Mike Ditka is an idiot and Colin Kaepernick has right on his side. Not sure what more ‘facts’ you need.
D) Have a nice evening.
Oooooo, that’s a deep burn Eddie….
Are those Eddie’s options? I would go with E. Read the piece first before commenting! I ain’t no journalist writer type person but it’s always best to leave out such things as calling someone ‘an idiot’, regardless of how true it may be, it just stoops to a level it doesn’t need to go. ‘The moral high ground to which you aspire could turn into into a slippery slope.’ As for my option… I’m gonna pick D.
Another fact might be that he had a gun and disobeyed both the police officer and his relative who were shouting at him to stop multiple times. Another fact might be that 5 white men were also shot dead by police the same day. Another fact might be that not one of those shootings resulted in race riots where black people were getting attacked by vicious mobs of whites, looting stores, destroying public and private property. A reactive opinion on those facts might be that were such riots were to take place the people perpetrating them would not be mollycoddled by the media and referred to as “protesters”. There are 2 sides to every story. I respect your opinions and thank you for writing the article but my personal assessment of the facts leads me to a conclusion different to yours. Which I am sure you will respect also.
What the some of the cops have been doing is totally wrong but there are 30 shootings plus a week in Chicago black/black crime and there has never been any protests about it.
They are all on the bandwagon at this stage. CK tryna be relevant because he hasn’t been that on a football field in almost 3 years
Colin Keapernick is performing a peace civil protest designed to engage. It’s worked, it seems blacks aren’t allowed to protest peacefully or with violence without criticism. Fyi, there have been many many protests about crime in Chicago and beyond. You just don’t hear about it, why? Because their black and Noone gives a chit….. until those protests are about the white establishment.
I think one thing everyone can probably agree on is that the race issue and trouble at the moment in the US is one hell of a complex , emotive and deeply polarising subject. Rights , wrongs , double standards and hypocrisy on both sides.
YouTube Shannon Sharpe he’s brilliant at explaining. You will understand it after.