Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC
UFC heavyweight champion Jon Jones has taken a step towards resolving his authorized points.
Per Nolan King of MMA Junkie, a New Mexico choose dominated that Jones’ misdemeanor assault cost will likely be dismissed if he completes 4 hours of anger administration and obeys the legislation for 90 days as a part of his plea settlement.
After the choice was reached, Jones took to social media to specific gratitude that the state of affairs will likely be resolved in time for his extremely anticipated return to the Octagon in the primary occasion of UFC 309 on Nov. 16 when he defends his title in opposition to former champion Stipe Miocic:
BONY @JonnyBones
I wish to prolong my due to the justice system for reaching a immediate decision on this matter, which affirms my innocence and allows me to take care of my deal with the upcoming battle. I’m eagerly anticipating the chance to defend my heavyweight title on November sixteenth…
Jones was facing a misdemeanor cost of interference with communication and a petty misdemeanor cost of assault stemming from a drug take a look at at his New Mexico residence the place the testers accused him of being hostile.
Jones had denied the allegations after they first had been made public earlier this 12 months.
“I used to be just lately visited by testers whereas I used to be celebrating a birthday and taking a nap,” he wrote in a social media publish. “Upon waking up, I used to be caught off guard by the unprofessionalism and protocol by one of many testers, which triggered frustration main me to make use of some profanity I remorse.
“Nonetheless, I wish to emphasize that at no level did I threaten, get in anybody’s face, elevate my voice to anybody, or interact in any type of assault. It is unlucky that false information has been unfold with out correct fact-checking. I wish to guarantee you that I’ll vigorously defend myself in opposition to these baseless accusations. The reality is, the incident merely didn’t happen.”
Jones has not fought since defeating Ciryl Gane to win the vacant heavyweight title at UFC 285 in March 2023. He suffered a torn labrum in coaching, and the UFC topped an interim heavyweight champion, Tom Aspinall, in his absence.
If Jones is profitable in opposition to Miocic, many are questioning if he’ll retire or face Aspinall in a title unification battle.
