BREAKING: Former UFC heavyweight champion Jon Jones has been officially cleared of all charges stemming from a February incident involving a car accident in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The Bernalillo County District Attorney’s Office announced today that the charges were dropped, citing a credible alibi defense from Jones.
The decision was made public just moments ago, marking a significant turn in the case that had attracted widespread media attention. According to officials, they now have “reason to believe the defendant’s alibi defense is credible.” This revelation comes after the district attorney’s office faced criticism for filing charges against Jones twice due to a “clerical error,” which led to multiple cases being dismissed regarding a single incident.
In a statement on X, Jones expressed his gratitude, stating, “I want to begin by thanking the district attorney’s office for carefully reviewing the facts and ultimately vindicating me completely. I have always believed in the importance of truth and fairness, and I am grateful that the evidence spoke for itself. The simple fact is this: I was never there. I never even left my house that night, and all the evidence proved that.”
The charges against Jones were related to a car accident on February 21, 2023. Reports indicated that police were called to the scene where a half-naked woman claimed Jones had been driving and fled the scene. Bodycam footage later showed the woman contacting a man she identified as Jones, during which he allegedly made threats to a responding officer.
Earlier this year, Jones stirred controversy when he appeared to implicate himself as the man on the phone. In a now-deleted post, he stated, “Whoever was on the phone with me at first, his timestamp is different. By the time I was acting aggressive on the phone, it was a completely different conversation. I was already in my paranoid and defensive state.”
Jones, who has faced numerous legal challenges throughout his career, was previously arrested for a felony hit-and-run in 2015 involving a pregnant woman. He has also pleaded guilty to DWI charges on multiple occasions.
Despite these hurdles, Jones remains a revered figure in the MMA world, often cited as the greatest fighter of all time. Earlier this year, he announced his retirement rather than unify his heavyweight title against interim champion Tom Aspinall. However, he quickly declared his intentions to return to the octagon, aiming to compete at the UFC’s planned event at the White House in July 2026.
As developments unfold, fans and followers of Jones are keenly watching for his next steps. With the charges now behind him, the MMA community is abuzz with speculation about his future in the sport.