Former UFC referee John McCarthy revealed a troubling incident involving heavyweight champion Jon Jones, accusing him of inappropriate behavior toward a male commission worker in a locker room. Shared on McCarthy’s “Weighing In” podcast on May 28, 2025, the allegations have drawn attention due to Jones’s prominence in MMA and his history of controversies. The incident, lacking a specified event, has raised questions about Jones’s conduct and his strained relationship with McCarthy.
A Shocking Locker Room Encounter
McCarthy described visiting Jones’s locker room, where the fighter was in high spirits:
“I went into Jon’s locker room,” McCarthy said on his “Weighing In” podcast with Josh Thomson. “He’s bouncing around and having a good time. Says, ‘I’ve got a question for you.’ Says, ‘I need somebody.’ There’s an individual there and that individual is a black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and was working for the commission. And he says, ‘someone get on the ground with me.’ So this guy, being a ground guy, says, ‘Yeah I’ll do it for you, I know how to roll.’ So he goes down and says, ‘put me in guard,’ and Jon decides to do a sexual act on him.”
The commissioner was visibly shocked. McCarthy continued:
“[Jon was] saying, ‘what if I do this, this isn’t illegal, right?’ The guy who was on the ground, quickly his eyes went as big as they could get, like, ‘what are you doing?’ I said, ‘Jon, knock it off.’ I helped the person up. He goes, ‘Oh, I’m just joking — but really, what could you do?’ I said, ‘I could disqualify you for being unsportsmanlike. Go ahead and do it and let’s see what happens.’”
McCarthy’s Intervention
McCarthy swiftly stopped the incident, warning Jones of potential disqualification for unsportsmanlike conduct. He expressed frustration, stating:
“This is why Jon and I never really got along, because I didn’t put up with his shit.” Jones’s coach, Greg Jackson, apologized for the behavior.
“(Coach) Greg Jackson comes up and says, ‘John, I’m sorry he did that.’ I said, ‘Greg, it ain’t you, he’s just a dipsh*t,’” McCarthy recalled. Via MMAMania
Jones’s Controversial Past
Jon Jones, 37, is one of MMA’s most accomplished fighters. He won the UFC light heavyweight title at age 23 in 2011, defeating Maurício Rua at UFC 128, and held it from 2011 to 2015 and again from 2018 to 2020, setting records for title defenses. In 2023, he captured the heavyweight title by submitting Ciryl Gane at UFC 285, becoming a two-division champion.
His career, however, has been plagued by issues. In 2015, Jones was stripped of his title after a hit-and-run in Albuquerque that injured a pregnant woman. In 2016, a doping violation led to his removal from UFC 200 and a one-year USADA suspension. In 2017, his knockout of Daniel Cormier at UFC 214 was overturned to a no-contest after a positive Turinabol test, resulting in another suspension. In 2021, he pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor property damage charge after a domestic battery arrest in Las Vegas. In 2024, Jones resolved misdemeanor assault and interference charges from an incident with a drug testing agent by agreeing to anger management classes.
Jones and McCarthy have a history of friction. The Jones camp once requested the Nevada State Athletic Commission remove McCarthy as referee for his UFC 200 fight against Cormier, citing discomfort with his oversight.
The incident adds to the scrutiny surrounding Jones, whose in-cage success contrasts with his off-cage troubles. With no reported investigation, the allegations’ impact remains unclear. McCarthy’s account, backed by his reputation, ensures the story will linger as Jones prepares for his next fight. Whether this affects his legacy or upcoming title defense depends on any further developments or responses from those involved.
