UFC heavyweight champion Jon “Bones” Jones has reached an agreement to attend four hours of anger management classes. This decision comes as a way to address two misdemeanor charges linked to a recent drug test conducted at his New Mexico residence, where he was reported to have acted in a hostile manner.
The case was initially set to go to a bench trial on Tuesday before a New Mexico judge. However, at the beginning of the virtual court session, the prosecutor and Jones’ defense attorney announced that a resolution had been achieved.
As part of the agreement, the charges—one of assault, a petty misdemeanor, and another for interference with communication, a misdemeanor—will be dropped if Jones successfully completes the anger management classes and adheres to all legal requirements over the next 90 days.
In response to the allegations, which he labeled as baseless, Jones had pleaded not guilty in July. He expressed his frustration on social media, critiquing the professionalism of one of the testers and acknowledging that he may have cursed during the interaction.
Regarded as one of the greatest MMA fighters of all time, Jones claimed the heavyweight title following a first-round submission victory over Ciryl Gane in March 2023. This match marked his return after a three-year hiatus and his debut in the heavyweight class, in addition to already holding the record for the most title fights in the light heavyweight category.
Looking ahead, Jones is set to challenge Stipe Miocic at UFC 309 on November 16 at Madison Square Garden in New York. Their fight was originally planned for the previous year, but Jones had to delay it due to a pectoral injury.
Jones’ history includes a suspension in 2016 after a failed drug test, and a subsequent no-contest ruling for a 2017 victory over Daniel Cormier due to another positive drug test. He later contended that under new standards introduced by the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency in 2019, he would have passed those tests.
The issues that led to the current charges began when a woman affiliated with Drug Free Sport International, the organization responsible for conducting tests for professional athletes, filed a report with the Albuquerque police in April. She alleged that Jones threatened her while she and a colleague were at his home for a drug test.
According to the criminal complaint, although the woman initially described Jones as cooperative, her demeanor changed when he became agitated during the testing process. However, Jones claimed he maintained a degree of civility, noting that he apologized for swearing at both testers at the conclusion of the drug test. He also provided video footage that appeared to show the woman giving him a high-five before departing, suggesting that neither seemed frightened during their interactions.
