UFC’s Jon Jones Reaches Settlement on Assault Charges and Will Participate in Anger Management | News, results, highlights, stats and gossip

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – SEPTEMBER 14: Jon Jones attends UFC 306 at Riyadh Season Noche UFC at Sphere on September 14, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo: Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC)

Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC

UFC heavyweight champion Jon Jones has taken a step towards resolving his legal problems.

For Nolan King an MMA Junkie judge in New Mexico ruled that Jones’ misdemeanor assault charge would be dismissed if he completed four hours of anger management work and complied with the law for 90 days as part of the plea agreement.

Following the decision, Jones took to social media to express his gratitude that the situation was resolved in time for his long-awaited return to the Octagon during the main event of UFC 309 on November 16, when he will defend his title against former champion Stipe Miocic:

BONY @JonnyBones

I would like to sincerely thank the justice system for the quick resolution of this case, which confirms my innocence and allows me to continue to focus on the fight ahead. I look forward to defending my heavyweight title on November 16…

Jones was lining a misdemeanor charge of interfering with communications and a minor misdemeanor charge of assault resulting from a drug test at his New Mexico home, where testers accused him of being hostile.

Jones denied the allegations when they were first made public earlier this year.

“I was recently visited by testers while I was celebrating my birthday and taking a nap,” he added he wrote in a social media post. “When I woke up, I was surprised by the unprofessionalism and protocol of one of the testers, which caused frustration that led me to use profanity, which I regret.

“However, I want to emphasize that at no point did I threaten, stand in anyone’s face, raise my voice at anyone or engage in any form of assault. It is unfortunate that fake news has been spread without proper fact checking. I want to assure you that I will vigorously defend myself against these baseless accusations. The truth is that this incident simply did not happen.”

Jones hasn’t fought since defeating Ciryl Gane to win the vacant heavyweight title at UFC 285 in March 2023. He suffered a torn labrum during training, and the UFC crowned interim heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall in his absence.

If Jones is successful against Miocic, many wonder whether he will retire or face Aspinall in a title unification fight.