Jon Jones UFC retirement raises eyebrows as hit and run charge resurfaces in court

UFC legend Jon Jones just made headlines again, but not for a fight. A surprise announcement about his retirement came out on Saturday, but that’s not all. Court documents now show that the former champion is facing a criminal charge from an incident that happened months ago. The details are shocking and involve a crash, a mysterious phone call, and strange behavior after the accident.


Jon Jones Faces Criminal Complaint From February Crash After UFC Retirement News

Charged with a misdemeanor in New Mexico for allegedly leaving the scene of an accident, former UFC heavyweight champion Jon Jones is now accused. Though the event purportedly occurred in Albuquerque, New Mexico, back on February 21, 2025, the Bernalillo County Metropolitan Court filed this charge on Tuesday, June 18, 2025.

The Albuquerque Journal reports that when police arrived late at night, they found a woman seated in the front passenger seat following a collision. Though she said she had no waist-down apparel and police said Jon Jones had been driving, she escaped the site right after the collision.

UFC asked him to hold off, pretty clear when Dana White made the Jon jones retirement announcement.

— Ben Andruff (@AndruffBen) June 24, 2025

The woman also told police later that she had been drinking alcohol and using mushrooms while at Jones’s house. She said she remembered changing clothes at his place and then somehow ending up in the crashed car. She claimed she didn’t know how she got there.

A police aide at the scene spoke to a man believed to be Jon Jones when the woman called him from the car. That guy sounded drunk and declined to state his name. The complaint further charges that he stated he would use force and violence.

The police said that Jon Jones was interviewed days later. He called her after the accident and admitted she had left his residence after drinking. He also said he was scared when he picked up the phone and someone else started shouting and swearing.

Court records indicate the crash occurred on February 21; the accusation was officially recorded on February 24; the complaint was at last filed in mid-June 2025.


Jon Jones Confirms Retirement Days Before Court Hearing Set For July 24

Just before this criminal charge became public, Jon Jones announced his retirement from UFC on Saturday, June 22, 2025. This came during UFC 304, where UFC President Dana White confirmed that Tom Aspinall would now be the official heavyweight champion.

Jon Jones bodycam footage shows UFC star threatening cop after shock retirement reveal https://t.co/SWZKWTd84o pic.twitter.com/USeDRjP5I0

— New York Post Sports (@nypostsports) June 24, 2025

Jones shared a post on X (formerly Twitter) that said,

“This decision comes after a lot of reflection… I’ll cherish every memory, the highs and lows, and the lessons they brought.”

Jones’s bond arraignment hearing is now scheduled for July 24, 2025, in Bernalillo County.

Also Read: Could Tom Aspinall Have Been The Reason Behind Jon Jones' Early Retirement?