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UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones is currently sought by the Albuquerque Police Department for questioning over a hit-and-run car accident. In the car collision, a pregnant woman was taken to a hospital with minor injuries.
While the car crash happened early Sunday, the police first called Jones a “person of interest” in the case, but switched to describe him as a full-blown suspect hours later.
Officer Simon Drobik, a spokesperson for the Albuquerque Police Department, confirmed Sunday night that the he was sought for interrogation. Drobik also said that the department didn’t know of Jones’ whereabouts, but they were currently looking for him.
According to the officer, Jones was not arrested as the department was trying to figure out where he might be.
According to the police’s public release on late Sunday evening, Jones was actively sought by police officers for his “possible involvement” in a hit-and-run car crash in Southeast Albuquerque early that morning.
Authorities also reported that the driver of the other car involved in the collision, a pregnant woman in her twenties, was taken to the hospital, but she was affected only by minor injuries.
The police failed to contact the fighter at his residence late that day. They also tried to reach his attorney but they did not heard back from him. The police also urged anyone with helpful information on Jones to call the department at 505-242-2677.
Moments after the police statement was released, the UFC also made a public comment. The company said it was aware of the current police investigation involving Jon Jones, but before “gathering more facts” it declined to further comment on the issue.
Sources familiar with the matter initially disclosed that the fighter would not compete against Anthony Johnson on May 23 in Las Vegas because of the investigation. But other sources recently said that the bout was at risk not terminated.
Jon Jones, 27, is currently the most skilled MMA fighter on the planet, and his fight against Johnson would have been a chance to defend his light heavyweight title for the ninth time in a row.
He last time fought on January 3 when he defeated former Olympic wrestler Daniel Cormier. But before the fight, rumor has it that Jones tested positive for cocaine and entered rehab shortly after the fight.
Moreover, Jones had previous encounters with the police as in 2012 he was taken into custody from his home for driving under influence. The police fined him $1,000 and temporarily suspended his driver’s license.
In 2012, UFC 151 was canceled, after Jones’ refusal to fight Chael Sonnen because he had had not enough time for preparation. Sonnen replaced Dan Henderson, who couldn’t compete due to a serious injury.
In 2014, Jones was involved in an online dispute after a series of anti-gay remarks posted on his Instagram account. The fighter disclosed that his account was breached, although a private selfie was also posted at that time.
Johnson currently features as one of Jones’ most redoubtable challengers. Yet, Chael Sonnen, a MMA fighting expert, said in March that their UFC 187 fight simply “won’t happen.”
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Deborah Nielsen
Deborah Nielsen never thought she could be a journalist and a good one, we might add. Having a strong passion for music, she started singing at an early age, but it was only in college that she formed her first band. Her music education won her a job as a news reporter at the local radio station as well as the chance of meeting her favorite artists. In 2013, Deborah took things forward by starting her own blog and contributing to various news related websites. Currently, she covers a broad area of subjects and topics from various fields.
