In new video footage, the alleged victim in a battery case against UFC light heavyweight champ Jon Jones cries when describing the incident to police officers.
“The whole situation is so complicated,” said the victim, whose name is being withheld by MMA Junkie. “I’m not really sure what to say. This person gets away with (expletive) everything.”
Jones, 32, has pleaded not guilty after being accused of roughhousing with the alleged and then slapping on her vagina during a visit to TD’s Eubank Showclub in April. His bench trial is scheduled for Sept. 26 in Alberquerque Metropolitan Court.
Albuquerque police were called to the alleged victim’s house on April 19 and spoke to her about what transpired. CBS Albuquerque affiliate KRQE obtained bodycam footage from the responding officers who took her statement, which led to a warrant being issued for Jones’ arrest.
Jones’ representatives said the police didn’t send a notice of court appearance to the proper address and claimed the fighter wasn’t aware of the charge until contacted by the media for comment.
The alleged victim told police Jones was breaking club rules by kissing her on the neck and pulling her onto his lap during the encounter. She said he put his arm around her neck “pretty tight” during her encounter.
“I was like, ‘Oh you’re going to put me in a chokehold,'” she said. “I got out of the thing, and as soon as I did that he just like picked me up and, you know, flipped me over whatever and just started roughhousing with me.”
After she broke free, she said Jones assaulted her.
“The issue is that when he put me back down over by the bar, he like smacked my (expletive),” she said.
In the criminal complaint against Jones, the alleged victim said she twice told Jones he would have to pay her $100 for that contact.
While speaking to police, she said she was hesitant to press charges against Jones because she believes the fighter is “untouchable” by the law.
“It’s (expletive) Jon Jones. What am I supposed to say about that?” she said.
“A crime is a crime regardless,” an officer told her. “Doesn’t give him the right just because he’s a celebrity.”
As MMA Junkie previously reported, the officer who filed charges will serve as a prosecutor in Jones’ case. Battery is a petty misdemeanor in New Mexico, the lowest level of criminal offense. The officer won’t be allowed to bring Jones’ previous brushes with the law into court.
Veteran defense attorneys have cast doubt on the alleged victim’s statements and validity of the battery charge.
KRQE reported the strip club wouldn’t say whether it has changed its policies in the wake of the Jones incident.
UFC president Dana White has downplayed the severity of the UFC champ’s legal troubles, saying he’s reviewed security footage from the strip club and, based on that, believes the case “looks good for Jon.”
Jones is a little over one month removed from a split-decision win over Thiago Santos at UFC 239. It was the closest fight of his decorated MMA career.
After Stipe Miocic’s win over Daniel Cormier at UFC 241, Jones called the heavyweight champ the greatest ever. He’s previously expressed interest in a showdown with Miocic while hedging on a trilogy with rival Cormier.
