UFC News: Dana White Says Jon Jones ‘Had A Lot Of Chances, And This Was His Last One’
It’s been an awful week for the UFC and the now-former UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Jon Jones. Sunday morning, Jones was involved in an automobile accident, which caused injury to a pregnant woman. After the crash, Jones immediately fled the scene. After nearly two days of hiding out, Jones turned himself in to the Albuquerque police and was subsequently released on $2,500 bail.
Following Jones’ recent actions, people began to wonder if the UFC would once again let Jones’ actions slide. Well, they didn’t, as they indefinitely suspended Jones and stripped him of the Light Heavyweight Championship. Furthermore, Reebok terminated their contract with the former champ.
Jones’ issues outside of the octagon are no secret. In 2011, Jones was cited for driving with a suspended license, and then seven months later he was arrested in New York for driving while intoxicated. Jones was also fined $25,000 by the UFC after testing positive for cocaine following an out-of-competition drug test prior to his fight with Daniel Cormier back in January.
UFC President Dana White — who has received criticism in the past for not coming down hard enough on Jones — appeared on ESPN’s SportsNation on Wednesday to talk about the Jon Jones situation, and White said that Jones has had plenty of chances to get it together in the past, and that this was his last chance.
“A lot of people know, Jon’s had a lot of chances. This one was his last chance. He’s got to handle his business outside of the Octagon and then we’ll see where he goes from there.”
Nobody knows exactly when the UFC will lift Jones’ suspension, but it’s expected that it won’t be any time soon. Furthermore, the UFC suspension could just be the beginning for Jones, as he could be facing significant jail time. Jones appeared in court for the first time on Tuesday, but he didn’t speak or enter a plea.
Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer reported on Tuesday that Jones could be facing up to three years of jail time, and that a guilty plea could reduce the sentence to one year or less.
Jones was set to defend his UFC Light Heavyweight Championship against Anthony “Rumble” Johnson on May 23 in one of the most highly anticipated bouts of the year. Now, Jones is being replaced by Daniel Cormier, and the winner of the Cormier vs. Johnson fight will be the new UFC Light Heavyweight Champion.
[Image via MMAFighting]
