Jon Jones can’t seem to get out of his own way.
The returning former UFC Light Heavyweight Champion just this month settled a driving citation after being pulled over for speeding without a license, registration, or proof of insurance, and he revealed on Monday that he was pulled over last week and cited once again.
Jones made the revelation during an appearance on Ariel Helwani’s The MMA Hour, and a follow up report from TMZ confirmed with Albuquerque police that the traffic stop did, indeed, happen. Jones received five citations, for drag racing and several equipment issues, including an “issue” with the license plate.
It’s not clear whether this latest situation will have more of an effect on his probation for last year’s hit and run, but Jones said he plans to fight the citations, claiming he wasn’t actually drag racing. However, he also claimed he said some things to the officer he now regrets. Jones is scheduled to return at UFC 197 next month against Daniel Cormier.
Penick’s Analysis: It’s incredibly disappointing that he’s once again getting himself into trouble because of his driving. He’s claiming he wasn’t drag racing, but when he’s already had a hit and run accident and is out driving in any way that could be perceived as reckless, it means he’s continuing to risk his fighting career because of out of the cage decisions. It’s absolutely ridiculous. He needs to hire a driver. It’s insane that we have to continue talking about this with his return just a few weeks away.
UPDATE: More from Jones’ appearance via MMAFighting.com. Jones says he was at a red light and revved his engine jokingly with some fans pulled up next to him, and got just past the light after it turned green before he was pulled over. He said the citations came after he argued with the officer.
“I definitely wasn’t drag racing. I got emotional and said some things that I probably shouldn’t have said to a police officer,” Jones said. “I just think this officer in particular was looking for a DWI or something. He was trying to stick with me one of those and once he realized I was sober, I don’t know if he was in a bad mood or whatever, but he was definitely confrontational. He needed something to justify pulling me over. He fabricated the whole thing that I was drag racing.”
[JP Reax: This is less egregious than the initial reports made it out to be, but it’s also all been brought on by his past behavior. Reaction to anything in this vein is going to be harsh because of what he himself did last year, and he still needs to be considering hiring a driver rather than even being in a position like this again.]
[Jon Jones art by Grant Gould (c) MMATorch.com]
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