UFC champ Jon Jones faces assault charge in New Mexico

UFC heavyweight champion Jon Jones is facing two misdemeanor charges in New Mexico stemming from an incident with a drug testing agent this spring.

Jones, who turns 37 on Friday. has been charged with assault and interference with communications and could face less than a year in jail time and up to $1,500 in fines if convicted, ESPN reported Monday.

The alleged incident occurred on March 30 when an agent for Drug Free Sport, the UFC's anti-doping partner, went to Jones' home in Albuquerque to collect a random sample.

A police report obtained by the news site ABQ Raw said Jones "appeared agitated" when he was unable to provide a urine sample and was offered the chance to submit a blood sample instead.

Jones allegedly took the agent's cellphone and issued a threat, according to the report. "Do you know what happens to people who come to my house?" Jones allegedly said. "They end up dead."

In a since-deleted Instagram post, Jones admitted to using profanity but called the threat accusation "baseless," according to ESPN.

Jones has a bond hearing scheduled for Wednesday in Albuquerque Metropolitan Court, at which time he will enter a plea.

Jones has had previous run-ins with the law, including a 2015 conviction for hit-and-run and a domestic violence arrest in 2021. He has also failed several UFC drug tests, most recently in 2018.

His last fight was a submission win against Ciryl Gane on March 4, 2023, in Las Vegas, improving his record to 27-1.

--Field Level Media