UFC champion Jon Jones accepts anger management classes to resolve assault charge

ALBUQUERQUE, NM — UFC heavyweight champion Jon “Bones” Jones He agreed to attend four-hour anger management classes to resolve a pair of misdemeanor charges stemming from drug testing at his New Mexico home, where he was accused of being hostile.

A trial was set to begin Tuesday before a judge in New Mexico, but the prosecutor and Jones’ defense attorney announced a deal had been reached at the beginning of the virtual hearing.

Charges of assault, a misdemeanor, and interference with communication, a misdemeanor, will be dismissed if Jones completes anger management classes within the next 90 days and complies with all laws.

There was Jones He did not admit his guilt In July, when the allegations were first made public earlier this year, he said they were false. He posted on social media that he was caught off guard by what he called the unprofessionalism of one of the testers and admitted to swearing after getting frustrated.

Jones, who is considered one of the best MMA fighters received the heavyweight title He submitted in the first round against Ciryl Gane in March 2023. This was Jones’ first fight in three years and his first fight in the heavyweight division. He became the top light heavyweight by winning an already record 14 title fights.

Jones will face Stipe Miocic at UFC 309 on November 16 at New York’s Madison Square Garden. He and Miocic were scheduled to fight last year, but a chest injury forced Jones to postpone.

In 2016, Jones was suspended for a year for a failed drug test, and his 2017 victory over Daniel Cormier was rendered a no-contest after another positive drug test. Jones later argued that he would have passed standards revised by the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency in 2019, which changed the criteria for a positive test.

A woman who worked for Drug Free Sport International, which tests professional athletes, first filed a report with Albuquerque police in April. He accused Jones of threatening him while he and a colleague were at Jones’ home for a drug test.

The woman initially described Jones as cooperative but became agitated, the criminal complaint said.

Jones told police he apologized for swearing at the woman and her co-worker at the end of the test. He provided video from what appeared to be a home camera system that showed the woman giving him a high-five before leaving. He said neither appeared afraid during the interaction.