Jon Jones Sought for Questioning in Wreck in Hit and Run Situation, What About UFC 187?

UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones is a full-blown suspect in a hit-and-run investigation. The early Sunday collision left a pregnant woman

hospitalized with minor injuries in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

A report from ESPN's Brett Okamoto said police now consider Jones a suspect in the case, rather the previous and more mild "person of interest" descriptor. MMA reporter David Kano first tweeted Sunday night that the champ was a person of interest in the hit-and-run. According to Kano, Albuquerque Police Department spokesperson Simon Drobik confirmed that Jones was being sought for questioning.

Marc Raimondi of MMAFighting.com also reportedly spoke with Drobick.
"[We] don't know where he is right now," Drobik told Raimondi in relation to Jones. "We're trying to figure that out."Late Sunday evening, the Albuquerque Police Department released a statement on the current status of the investigation:

The Albuquerque Police Department is actively seeking UFC Fighter Jon Jones for questioning in regards to his possible involvement in a hit-and-run accident, near the intersection of Juan Tabo and Southern, in Southeast Albuquerque early this morning, April 26, 2015.

A pregnant female in her 20s, who was the driver of a separate vehicle, was taken to a local hospital for minor injuries. Officers attempted to contact Mr. Jones at his residence Sunday evening, but were unsuccessful. We have also reached out to his lawyer, but as of now, have not heard back. Police have also invited anyone to call 505-242-2677 with any information they believe might be helpful, based on a statement published by Alburquerque ABC affiliate KOAT.

Not long after the APD statement, the UFC released its own unattributed statement to media members:
"We are aware that the Albuquerque Police Department is interested in speaking to Jon Jones regarding his possible involvement in a motor vehicle accident. We are in the process of gathering facts and will reserve further comment until more information is available."

Depending on whether, or to what extent, Jones was involved in the incident, he may not be available to defend his UFC light heavyweight title against Anthony Johnson, a bout initially scheduled for May 23 at UFC 187 in Las Vegas. Earlier Sunday evening, unnamed sources told MMAWeekly.com that Jones will not compete in the event. Though the MMA Weekly report initially stated Jones would be out of the bout entirely, sources are now noting that the bout is at risk but not finished at this point.

The 27-year-old Jones (21-1) is generally considered the best active MMA fighter in the world. His bout with Johnson would have been his ninth consecutive light heavyweight title defense. Jones last fought in January, when he outwrestled an Olympic wrestler in Daniel Cormier at UFC 182.

Controversy and curiosity have followed Jones for much of his pro career. After defeating Cormier, news broke that Jones had tested positive for a metabolite of cocaine in a drug test leading up to the fight. He subsequently entered rehab, but stayed for only one day. In 2012, Jones was arrested in his home state of New York and charged with driving under the influence. He received a $1,000 fine and a suspended license, among other punishments.

Also in 2012, officials canceled UFC 151 after challenger Dan Henderson announced that an injury would prevent him from competing. UFC officials offered Chael Sonnen as a replacement, but Jones and his team refused, citing a lack of adequate preparation time. Last year, Jones and his handlers claimed the fighter's Instagramaccount had been hacked following scrutiny over anti-gay remarks posted to his official account.

Nevertheless, Jones remains a popular fighter with undeniable talent. He has regularly beaten the best fighters in the world, from Lyoto Machida to Cormier to Rashad Evans to Alexander Gustafsson. On paper, Johnson would be one of Jones' toughest challengers to date. "Rumble" (19-4) is among the most feared strikers in the UFC with 13 of 19 pro wins coming by knockout, most recently a first-round TKO of Gustafsson in Sweden this January.

The UFC 187 co-main event is a middleweight title bout between Chris Weidman and challenger Vitor Belfort. Should Jones vs. Johnson be pulled from the card, it is conceivable that the co-main event could be bumped up to main event status. Sunday was not the first time Jones' UFC 187 availability was questioned. In March, retired UFC standout and current ESPN analyst Chael Sonnen said during a Reddit "Ask Me Anything" session that Jones vs. Johnson "won't happen."

"Won't happen," Sonnen wrote. "Mark my words."