Jon Jones tapped himself out of Ultimate Fighting Championship competition.
A day after Jones turned himself into Albuquerque Police Department custody for a hit-and-run incident, the UFC stripped him of his light heavyweight championship. It suspended him indefinitely on Tuesday. After Jones checked himself into rehab for drug abuse this past January, his latest incident didn't leave the UFC any choice but to take a stand against its 27-year-old mixed martial arts superstar.
"He's very disappointed. He's upset. He wanted to go down as one of the greats or the greatest," UFC president Dana White explained on Fox Sports Live about Jones, as reported by ESPN. "He's disappointed, but it is what it is. It is the decision we had to make. For us to go in and have to strip him of his title and suspend him is not fun, but you know what they say — the show must go on."
A disappointed Jones tweeted his apology Tuesday, while admitting that he needs to make changes in his life.
Got a lot of soul searching to do. Sorry to everyone I've let down.
— Jon Bones Jones (@JonnyBones) April 29, 2015
Jones was wanted for allegedly striking the vehicle of a 25-year-old pregnant woman in an early morning accident on Sunday, April 26, in Albuquerque, breaking her arm as a result. He then reportedly fled his vehicle, in which police later found marijuana and a marijuana pipe. Jones turned himself into police custody Monday and was released on bond the same day. He faces a felony charge of leaving the scene of an accident. That felony charge can potentially carry jail time.
In 2012, he was charged with driving while intoxicated after crashing his car into a utility pole in upstate New York.
Jones's bitter rival, Daniel Cormier, will take his place at UFC 187 on May 23, competing against Anthony "Rumble" Johnson for the now-vacant light heavyweight title.
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