UFC fans are looking forward to this weekend’s event as Jon Jones prepares to make his long-awaited return to the Octagon.
The American fighter will make his first appearance inside the Octagon in three years, when he will face France’s Ciryl Gane in contention for the vacant heavyweight title.
The 35-year-old is seen as one of the greatest fighters to ever step foot in the Octagon, and his return to the UFC will have fans reminiscing about his greatest moments.
However, there are a number of scandals and run-ins with the law that have tarnished his reputation both inside and outside the Octagon.
Is here, sports mail takes a look at the ridiculous criminal record Jones sports prior to his UFC Heavyweight Title fight.
Jon Jones will return to the cage for the first time in three years when he faces Cyryl Gane
BREAKING YOUR £150,000 BENTLEY
Jones’ first major run-in with the law came in 2012, when the UFC star crashed his £150,000 Bentley into a traffic pole after a night of partying.
The light heavyweight star had two women in the car at the time of the accident and was fined £827 ($1,000).
He also had his driver’s license suspended for six months after refusing to take a field sobriety test and was required to complete a victim impact class.
CONFLICT WITH CORMIER
Jones’ first run-in with the law outside the Octagon didn’t seem to derail his progress inside the Octagon too much, until his confrontation with Daniel Cormier two years later.
The two American light heavyweights were scheduled to fight at UFC 178 – before being moved – and tensions rose at a press event in August 2014.
As the two fighters faced off in a face-off onstage, Cormier delivered a shove to his counterpart’s throat.
Jones responded by throwing a punch and provoking a mass brawl during the press conference as a large crowd formed to try and stop the violence.
The light heavyweight was fined $50,000 and given 40 hours of community service for fighting Cormier.
The 35-year-old broke his £150,000 Bentley in 2012 and refused to take a field sobriety test
Two years later, he faced light heavyweight rival Daniel Cormier at a press conference
RUN A PREGNANT WOMAN
His escapades outside the Octagon have gone from bad to worse a year after the light heavyweight star was involved in a hit-and-run offense that resulted in a pregnant woman with a serious arm injury.
In April 2015, police alleged that Jones ran a red light and crashed his rental car in a collision involving two other vehicles before fleeing the scene on foot.
For injuring a person and purposely leaving the scene of an accident, Jones’ charges were elevated to a felony. He later turned himself in that same night.
Jones met with company president Dana White shortly afterwards, which led to the decision to strip him of the title, remove him from the official rankings, and suspend him indefinitely.
BREACH OF PROBATION
The American ended up avoiding prison for the incident in April 2015, but received 18 months of probation – which he later violated.
In March 2016, Jones was taken to Albuquerque Jail after violating his probation for receiving five drag racing tickets.
He was filmed being abusive towards the officer in question and was instructed to take anger management and driving lessons.
The previous week, he was charged with drag racing and received five citations.
Jones was sent to Albuquerque jail after violating his probation in 2016 for a hit-and-run
INCIDENT WITH A WAITRESS
In July 2019, he was charged with assault for allegedly putting a waitress in a chokehold and lifting her off the floor at an Albuquerque strip club.
Jones received a 90-day deferred sentence that instructed that he must avoid prison, not consume alcohol or drugs, and not return to the scene.
ACCUSED WITH AGGRAVATED DWI
It would only take eight months for Jones to get into more drama with law enforcement officials after he was charged with drunk driving (DWI) and negligent use of a firearm in 2020.
The UFC star was found by police with “a half-empty bottle of tequila and a gun” in her car.
Police allegedly found Jones in a jeep with the engine running. He denied firing the gun, but reportedly failed the breathalyzer test twice.
His punishment was four days of house arrest, one year of supervised probation, a minimum of 90 days of outpatient therapy and 48 hours of community service.
In a video released by police, Jones (left) was given tasks in an attempt to prove his sobriety.
CHASING A SUSPECT THIEF WITH A SHOTGUN
In November 2020, although it did not result in a run-in with the law, Jones shared a video in which he chased an alleged burglar off his property with a shotgun.
The video shows security footage from Jones’ garage at his home, and the alleged burglar can be seen around the car before Jones appears.
The UFC star chased the man while holding a shotgun. He shared the video with a caption, “Next time you try to rob someone, make sure you’re fast enough to outrun them.”
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE ARREST
Lastly, his most recent brush with the law occurred the same night he was inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame in September 2021.
Jones was arrested on suspicion of domestic violence after a Caesars Palace security guard noticed his fiancée, Jessie Moses, had a bloodied lip and blood on her clothes.
Body camera video captured by one of the officers present at the scene showed an emotionally distressed Jones claiming that he had been arrested because of his race, telling the officers that he hated them, and also headbutting the vehicle.
His fiancée gave a statement to police in Las Vegas and admitted that the 34-year-old had “been a bit physically involved” with her in front of their three children.
Police say he was taken into custody after resisting arrest and was released after bail of £5,850 was paid before completing an anger management course.
Jones was arrested by police in Las Vegas the same night as his UFC Hall of Fame induction.