UFC 197’s Jon Jones says he’s hired a full time driver after latest traffic stop, arrest

By Jamie Penick, MMATorch Editor-in-Chief

Jon Jones (art credit Grant Gould © MMATorch)

In a move that’s a year late, Jon Jones has finally hired himself a driver.

The former UFC Light Heavyweight Champion revealed on Monday that he’s made the move, hiring his nutritionist Lou Giordano to be his full time driver following his latest traffic stop and arrest last week in New Mexico.

“I have him here and he’s driving me between every practice all day, even at night now,” Jones said in an interview with Ariel Helwani on The MMA Hour. “I figured I’d take getting in trouble out of the police’s hands by simply not driving.

“There’s a pattern throughout my career. I’ve never gotten into a street fight, nothing crazy. It’s always been something behind the wheel. So, by simply not driving, I’m pretty positive that there won’t be any issues coming up in my life, especially [with my] sobriety as well. I’ve failed some drug tests in the past and I’ve gotten some traffic issues in the past. Now that I’m sober, now that I’m just not going to drive anyone for a while, I think we’re going to be good.”

Jones’ arrest was due to a probation violation after getting stopped for allegedly “drag racing,” with his probation due to the hit and run accident he caused last April. Additionally, Jones has a DUI on his record from an incident in New York, where he ran his vehicle into a pole in the middle of the night.

Penick’s Analysis: This is absolutely the right move for Jones, and should have been done a long time ago. He can afford the expense, and it keeps him from being responsible for any more issues in regards to his driving. He’s shown time and again how irresponsible he’s been behind the wheel, so taking that out of play may finally allow him to move forward. It’s unfortunate he can’t be trusted behind the wheel, but he can’t be, so this was a move that needed to be made.

[Jon Jones art by Grant Gould (c) MMATorch.com]

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