Jon Jones hit with new criminal charge amid UFC retirement news

UFC star Jon Jones, who confirmed his shocking retirement Saturday, was accused of leaving the scene of an accident — a misdemeanor charge — in February and has a bond arraignment hearing scheduled for July 24, according to the case record of a criminal complaint filed Tuesday in Bernalillo County Metropolitan Court.

It’s unclear why the complaint was filed nearly four months after the crash and if the charge was connected to his decision to retire, which UFC president Dana White announced Saturday as Tom Aspinall was named the undisputed heavyweight champion. 

The Albuquerque Journal reported, citing the complaint, that a police officer responded to a crash and found a significantly intoxicated woman — not wearing clothes below the waist — in the front passenger seat who told the officer that Jones drove the vehicle and fled.

The woman allegedly told police at a later point that she had alcohol and mushrooms while with Jones at his house, and she reportedly recalled needing to change her clothes.

Then, the next thing she allegedly remembered was being at the scene of the crash, according to the Journal.

A police service aide allegedly spoke to a man believed to be Jones when the woman called him from the scene of the crash, but the outlet reported the man didn’t answer questions about his identity.

The man believed to be Jones allegedly “appeared to be heavily intoxicated and made statements implying his capacity to employ lethal force through third parties,” and “allusions to violence” continued even after the police service aide asked for backup, according to the Journal, which cited court records.

Police interviewed Jones in-person in the days after the crash, according to the Journal, and he allegedly confirmed that the woman left his house intoxicated and called him following the crash, according to the Journal.

Jones, whose UFC dominance has also coincided with legal issues, also reportedly said that the person the woman handed the phone to “immediately opened the conversations with unprofessional language, which led him to doubt the legitimacy of the individual’s claim.”

The charge date — viewed by The Post in the court database — was listed as Feb. 24, and the police report allegedly noted that the crash occurred three days prior to that, according to the Journal.

“This decision comes after a lot of reflection,” Jones wrote in a post on X that confirmed his retirement, “and I want to take a moment to express my deepest gratitude for the journey I’ve experienced over the years. From the first time I stepped into the Octagon, my goal was to push the boundaries of what was possible in this sport.

“Becoming the youngest UFC champion in history, defending my title against some of the best fighters in the world, and sharing unforgettable moments with fans across the globe—these are memories I’ll cherish forever. I’ve faced incredible highs and some tough lows, but every challenge has taught me something valuable and made me stronger, both as a fighter and as a person.”