The baddest man on the planet is certainly living up to his nickname. Once again, it’s for all the wrong reasons.
In what has become the latest blemish on Jones’ record, the now former UFC Light Heavyweight champion has been suspended indefinitely from the UFC after having his title stripped and being removed from UFC 187 with no immediate timetable set for his return.
Jones’ latest indiscretion is the 27-year-old’s connection with a hit-and-run after Jon reportedly left the scene of an accident involving death or personal injury. The revelations come according to a report by mmafighting.com.
“Jones was arrested Monday night in Albuquerque after he allegedly ran a red light in a rented Buick SUV and crashed into a car driven by a pregnant woman, who suffered a fractured arm as a result of the collision. Police found a marijuana pipe in the car with marijuana inside of it, but it is understood Jones will not be charged for drug possession at this stage.
Jones had his first appearance in San Bernalillo County Metropolitan Court on Tuesday and was released on a bail continuance. Jones paid $2,500 on Monday night and was freed after he was booked in the Metro Detention Center. The judge did not put any travel restrictions on Jones on Tuesday in order to allow him to compete at UFC 187 in Las Vegas. But that won’t matter now.”
The latest incident comes just four months after Jones tested positive for cocaine and just eight months after Jones was punished for his involvement in a media day brawl with new light heavyweight challenger Daniel Cormier.
Jones’ marketability, status as champion and pay-per-view draw had always bought him some valuable leeway with the UFC in the past (that is rarely afforded to Jones’ colleagues) but Jones’ latest act of recklessness forced the UFC’s hand, in what has been a difficult time for MMA’s premier organisation publicly.
Although White has made it clear that there is no imminent timetable for Jones’ return, the UFC have not cut Jones from their roster. The organisation has cut fighters for much much less in the past, ask Matt Riddle, Jesse Taylor, Anthony Johnson and the list goes on.
The fact is that there is a double standard in the UFC which leads many to believe that MMA is the sport and UFC is the spectacle. When all is said and done, fighters put bums on seats and who can make the consumer reach for the phone and order pay-per-view.
This isn’t the Olympics, it’s not always about who is the best, it can often be about who sells the most.
In fairness to the UFC, they have a long history of giving the fans the fights they want, when they want e.g. GSP versus Diaz, Rampage versus Chuck, Lesnar versus Couture, Anderson Silva versus whoever they could find. However, a definite double standard exists and those who are deserving don’t always get the title shot first.
Fighters like Donald Cerrone, Frankie Edgar, Jacare Souza are generally overlooked for the likes of Conor McGregor, Dan Henderson and Chael Sonnen.
The fact is Jon Jones is one of the UFC’s biggest earners. If the organisation was truly appalled and wanted to take a stance, they would have cut him, but they aren’t just going to let their prized bull wander into another farm’s field.
There are some out there that are predicting that Jones’ latest defence against Daniel Cormier may have been his last.
Could that be true? far from it. When the commotion dies down and the dust begins to settle, Jon Jones will return to where he always has been – the centre of the octagon.
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