Jon Jones cited for drag racing, 4 other violations

UFC star Jon Jones was cited for drag racing in downtown Albuquerque, New Mexico, on March 24, according to Albuquerque police.

Jones, 28, received five total citations, according to police department spokesman Tanner Tixier. Other citations included equipment modifications, issue with a license plate and failure to maintain a traffic lane. Tixier said he believed Jones was alone at the time of the stop and was driving a white Corvette.

"I was not drag racing nor was I speeding. I did not get a speeding ticket. I was driving within the speed limit of the 35mph zone," Jones explained in a statement. "I feel that police used a technicality to ticket me for drag racing, for simply revving my engine and acknowledging some of my local fans. I regrettably said words to the police officer out of frustration, for which I apologize for, but I do feel this was excessive."

Jones said Monday on the "MMA Hour" that his exchange with the officer became "heated" after he found out he was being cited for drag racing.

"For the police to be correct, the judge is going to have to find that Jon revving his engine constitutes drag racing," Jones' attorney, Vincent Ward, said in a statement. "He wasn't speeding, he was not driving recklessly. All Jon did was rev his engine to acknowledge a fan."

Jones was also pulled over and cited in February for driving without a license, registration or proof of insurance. Jones received a 90-day deferred sentence for those citations in a court appearance on March 23.

Originally from New York, Jones is currently under supervised probation as part of a plea agreement he entered into in September. The agreement stemmed from a felony charge of leaving the scene of a crash in April 2015. It is not yet known how the March 24 citations might affect Jones' probation.

Jones (21-1) is scheduled to challenge current UFC light heavyweight champion Daniel Cormier at UFC 197 on April 23 in Las Vegas. Jones is the former 205-pound champion and already has one win over Cormier.

The UFC released a statement Monday afternoon regarding Jones.

"We are aware of the situation and are looking into the matter," the UFC said. "We've also been in touch with Jon's team regarding the matter."

Following his arrest last year, Jones became the first UFC champion in history to be stripped of his title because of disciplinary reasons.

At a UFC news conference earlier this month, Jones claimed he was sober for the first time in his athletic career. In May 2012, Jones was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence in New York. He eventually pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor DWI.