Jon Jones revving his engine at a stoplight in supposed jest to fans next to him led to a traffic stop last week, and the officer’s body camera captured the entire exchange between Jones and the officer that led to multiple citations.
Jones laughs when he’s asked why he was drag racing, and that begins a nine minute exchange between the two in which Jones makes a number of comments of which he said Monday he regrets.
Here’s the full unedited clip from TMZ Sports:
And here’s the exchange from the most heated part of the discussion:
Jones: “Calling my lawyer, to ask him about this paper work. I’m sure I have the right to do that, buddy … f***in’ liar. I can’t believe you.”
Cop: “Well believe it, cuz I’m not joking.”
Jones: “For no reason. f***ing with me for no reason. What’s your name?”
Cop: “Officer Brown. It’s on your ticket, sir.”
Jones: “Can’t f***ing believe you. You’re ridiculous.”
Cop: “Just doing my job.”
Jones: “No, you’re not just doing your job. You’re f***in’ picking this Corvette out for no reason. Blaming me for all this sh*t that you know isn’t true.”
Jones: “You’re ridiculous … I used to really respect … f***ers like you.”
Cop: “You’d rather I just turn my head and let you be a nuisance to the citizens?”
Jones: “I am not a nuisance to the citizens.”
Cop: “I have sworn to protect the citizens from people like you, Mr. Jones. Please don’t dig around in your car.”
Jones: “I was looking for a pen. Give me the f***ing s***. Can’t believe you. Ridiculous.”
Cop: “Well believe it. Cuz it’s the truth, sir.”
Jones: “Ridiculous. You’re a f***ing liar. Good luck trying to prove that I was speeding because you know that I wasn’t.”
Jones said Monday he plans on fighting the tickets in court. He meets Daniel Cormier for the UFC Light Heavyweight Championship at UFC 197.
Penick’s Analysis: That Jones wound up not arrested after that is a testament to the officer’s patience. Jones believes it was an erroneous stop, and it’s possible his take on the incident is true. However, him revving the engine was enough, even on a technicality, and it’s the type of thing he can’t be bringing on himself. He’ll get his chance to plead his case with a judge, and it’s probably not going to result in further issues this time regarding his probation, especially with his contention that he doesn’t feel he’d broken any law and that he wasn’t intending on breaking any law. It’s unlikely to be resolved until after the Cormier fight, which I wouldn’t imagine the UFC would cancel over this with all the information available.
UPDATE: Jones has issued an apology for his language towards the officer, and categorically denies that he was speeding or racing anyone
“I was not drag racing nor was I speeding. I did not get a speeding ticket. I was driving within the speed limit of the 35mph zone. I feel that police used a technicality to ticket me for drag racing, for simply revving my engine and acknowledging some of my local fans. I regrettably said words to the police officer out of frustration, for which I apologize for, but I do feel this was excessive.”
[Jon Jones art by Grant Gould (c) MMATorch.com]
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