It looks like we won’t be seeing Jon Jones inside the Octagon again for a very long time.
The UFC stripped the light heavyweight champ of his belt and suspended him from competing indefinitely on Tuesday. This came as a result of the fighter’s arrest over a hit-and-run incident in New Mexico on Sunday. This means that Jones has become the first UFC champion to have his title revoked for disciplinary reasons.
The UFC released a statement on the suspension on its official website:
UFC announced that it has suspended Jon Jones indefinitely and stripped him of the light heavyweight title as a result of violations of the organization’s Athlete Code of Conduct Policy. Jones was recently arrested in Albuquerque, N.M. on a felony charge of leaving the scene of an accident involving personal injury. As a result of the charge and other violations of the Athlete Code of Conduct Policy, the organization believes it is best to allow Jones time to focus on his pending legal matters. …
With this decision, UFC has determined that No. 1 contender Anthony Johnson will now fight No. 3 contender Daniel Cormier for the UFC light heavyweight championship at UFC 187 on May 23 in Las Vegas.
Daniel Cormier, who lost to Jones via unanimous decision at UFC 182, now steps in to fight Anthony “Rumble” Johnson for the light heavyweight title in the headline bout at UFC 187. MMA reporter Ariel Helwani revealed that Cormier would replace the pound-for-pound king on Twitter.
White: Obviously, he's very disappointed. He wanted to go down as one of the greats but it was the decision we had to make.
— Ariel Helwani (@arielhelwani) April 29, 2015
…. As a result, Daniel Cormier vs. Anthony Johnson is set for UFC 187, per @foxsportslive.
— Ariel Helwani (@arielhelwani) April 29, 2015
White: It's not fun, but you know what they say, the show goes on. … Daniel Cormier was beyond pumped to get this opportunity.
— Ariel Helwani (@arielhelwani) April 29, 2015
White: Cormier, as soon as he heard it, said put me in. He was blowing me and Lorenzo up as soon as he heard about this.
— Ariel Helwani (@arielhelwani) April 29, 2015
Jones allegedly ran a red light, struck another car and fled the scene on foot on Sunday. A pregnant woman was behind the wheel of the other vehicle involved and she broke her wrist in the collision. Polioce also found a marijuana pipe and marijuana in the rental car Jones allegedly fled.
This comes after Jones tested positive for a cocaine metabolyte during a pre-fight drug test after his last trip to the Octagon against Cormier.
Jones has since issued an official apology after his arrest this week on Twitter.
https://twitter.com/JonnyBones/status/593235515274432512
Hat-tip to Bleacher Report
