Dana White has revealed the mega-fight between Jon Jones and Tom Aspinall was ‘done’, before the American changed his mind and retired.
The UFC president had dropped the bombshell that Jones called it a day two days ago, before the heavyweight – who has been stripped of his belt – then confirmed the news with a post on social media.
Less than 24 hours later, it emerged that Jones was facing a misdemeanor charge of fleeing the scene of an accident. A criminal summons accusing Jones of the charge was filed in Albuquerque Metropolitan Court Tuesday. Jones has been called to appear in court on July 24 for a bond arraignment. His lawyer said he was stunned by the charge and believes the police are wrongly targeting his client.
A police officer was said to be investigating a road accident on February 21 when they discovered a woman in the passenger seat of one of the vehicles, according to a police report obtained by Mail Sport.
The woman was reportedly ‘exhibiting signs of significant intoxication and lacking clothing from the waist down.’
When asked about Jones’ legal trouble, retirement and how close the Aspinall fight was to getting made, White told reporters: ‘We had the fight done. You saw me talking about it very confidently that this fight was going to happen and he changed his mind.’
Jones (right) was the undisputed heavyweight champion but his title has now gone to Tom Aspinall (left)
Jones informed Dana White and UFC officials he would not be fighting again
‘I saw it today,’ White said about Jones’ latest legal issues. ‘When I saw it today I said everybody’s going to think this is why he retired. Maybe that is why he retired. Who the hell knows. I don’t know. These are all questions you’ve got to ask him.’
White also added: ‘He called us and just started saying “you know what, I think I’m done, I want to retire. It’s been a great run, I appreciate everything” and that was it.
‘He was absolutely, positively sure that he wanted to retire and we said why don’t you sleep on it, if you wake up in the morning if that’s how you still feel.
‘You never know what Jon Jones is dealing with and then you wake up the next day [and there’s new criminal charges]. Who knows. I don’t know everything that went into this decision.
‘It’s something you guys are going to have to ask him if you ever see him again … all I know is he made it very clear that he wanted to retire and I don’t disagree with him.’
Jones’ lawyer said he was ‘stunned’ by the decision to charge his client.
‘It is truly unbelievable that the police would waste this amount of resources on such a case attorney Christopher Dodd told TMZ.
‘The only thing I can think of is that the police were targeting Jon for improper purposes. We will get to the bottom of it and make sure that this baseless case is dismissed.’
‘I am stunned by the Albuquerque Police Department’s decision to charge him in this new case. In the thousands of cases I have handled in my career, I have never seen a case as strange and unwarranted as this one.
‘Bones’ opted not to give the fans the biggest fight of the year and announced retirement
‘Jon was not driving that night; he wasn’t in the car,’ Dodd continued. ‘It appears that an intoxicated woman used a false allegation against Jon to avoid being arrested for DWI, and the police fell for it.
‘Based on the criminal complaint, it looks like they went so far as to seek a warrant for Jon’s cell phone records while conducting a misdemeanour traffic investigation. I have never heard of such a thing.’
Jones has not yet commented on the legal matter himself but wrote his retirement post on social media.
‘Today, I’m officially announcing my retirement from the UFC,’ it read. This decision comes after a lot of reflection, 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.
Jones has been accused of fleeing the scene of an accident in New Mexico
‘I want to thank the UFC, Dana, Hunter, Lorenzo, God, my family, coaches, teammates, and all the fans who have stood by me through every chapter. Your unwavering support and belief in me have been my foundation. To my fellow fighters, thank you for bringing out the best in me and for the respect we’ve shared inside and outside the cage.
‘As I close this chapter of my life, I look forward to new opportunities and challenges ahead. MMA will always be a part of who I am, and I’m excited to see how I can continue to contribute to the sport and inspire others in new ways. Thank you all for being part of this incredible journey with me. The best is yet to come.’
Jones vs Aspinall would have undoubtedly been the biggest fight this year and the American has been accused of avoiding the Brit for some time now.
It seems as though fans will never know if Aspinall could have dethroned the man many consider to be the greatest and he will want to quickly find an alternative opponent to make up for lost time.
