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UFC heavyweight champion Jon Jones has been arrested and summoned to court on allegations he assaulted and threatened to kill a drug-testing agent.

Jones had been visited by anti-doping officer Crystal Martinez and her colleague Jerome Romero for a surprise drug test at his home in Albuquerque on 30 March.

They had arrived to collect urine on behalf of their employer, Drug Free Sport International, which is contracted by the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC).

Ms Martinez has claimed Jones became angry about the drug-testing process, took her phone and put his face near to hers and said: “Why you f****** people come so early? Do you know what happens to people who come to my house? They end up dead.”

Jones has posted a lengthy statement on Instagram saying he became “frustrated with the unprofessionalism” of the two anti-doping agents, but insists their meeting ended “friendly and amicably, nothing threatening at all”.

He also shared a video of Ms Martinez and Mr Romero leaving his property which he claims shows him exchanging a “high five and a hug” with them.

Ms Martinez has said Jones was unhappy during the collection process and was unable to pass urine, prompting her to suggest a blood test, according to a police report.

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She claims this suggestion made him even more angry.

Ms Martinez has told police in New Mexico she believed Jones might have been drunk and that he threatened to sue her and her colleague.

Jones later walked away with Mr Romero and returned with a urine sample, according to the police report.

Ms Martinez said Mr Romero looked frightened and pale when he returned from collecting the urine sample.

She also told police that at one point Jones assaulted her and picked her phone up off a surface before recording a video.

It is said to capture the mixed martial arts star saying: “Here’s f***** Jerome and his girlfriend in my garage.”

Ms Martinez also said it was around this point the fighter put his face near hers and said people who come to his house early “end up dead”.

She added that he would not give her phone back and she feared for her safety.

Ms Martinez added that she wanted to terminate the session but was concerned it would worsen Jones’ mood because not giving a urine sample can lead to a UFC fine.

She said that after the encounter she wanted to push for charges to be filed against the fighter, even as her supervisor discouraged it and said she would wait for the UFC to respond.

Jones was interviewed by officers over the phone on Saturday, the police report said.

He was issued a summons to appear in court based on allegations of assault and interfering with communications in relation to taking the phone. The summons doubled as his arrest, and it does not appear Jones was taken into custody or formally charged.

Jones told police he never spoke of people facing death if they arrive at his home too early.

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In his statement posted on Instagram, Jones wrote: “I want to address reports about me allegedly threatening a drug tester’s life and taking a phone, I want to clarify that there is a video showing both drug testers leaving my home after the testing session, where we exchanged a high five and a hug.

“Although I was frustrated with the unprofessionalism and used profanity out of frustration it ended friendly and amicably, nothing threatening at all.

“I was actually celebrating a friend’s birthday party at my home, and I believe it’s perfectly normal to celebrate in the comfort of my own home.

“I must say, this particular tester behaved quite unprofessionally and even breached standard protocol along with HIPAA laws. Throughout my 20 years of being subjected to drug tests, I have never encountered such an incident with a DCO officer before.”

Jones has previously been suspended for doping – having been handed a 15-month suspension for his second violation of the UFC’s anti-doping policy in 2018.

The mixed martial artist became UFC heavyweight champion in March 2023, and has a record of 27 wins, one loss, zero draws and one no contest, which signifies that neither competitor can be declared the winner.

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More than 160 people still missing after deadly Texas floods

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More than 160 people still missing after deadly Texas floods

There are 161 people still missing in Texas in the aftermath of last weekend’s deadly flash floods, the state’s governor has said.

Speaking at a news conference on Tuesday, governor Gregg Abbot said the number of missing had risen markedly.

He said among the missing were five children and one counsellor from Camp Mystic – where at least 27 people were killed in the flash flooding.

At least 109 people are confirmed to have died in the floods, which took place on the 4 July weekend, but this figure has been steadily climbing ever since.

People comfort each other in Kerville. Pic: Jason Fochtman/Houston Chronicle via AP
Image:
People comforted each other in Kerville. Pic: Jason Fochtman/Houston Chronicle via AP

The bulk of deaths, and the main search for additional bodies, have been concentrated in Kerr County and the city of Kerrville.

The area was transformed into a disaster zone when torrential rains struck the region early last Friday, unleashing deadly flooding along the Guadalupe River.

Travis County, Kendall County, Burnett County, Williamson County, and Tom Green County were also hit.

Mr Abbot said many of those who were unaccounted for were in the Texas Hill Country area, but had not registered at a camp or hotel, posing further challenges for authorities.

A map of Austin, Kerrville, San Antonio and Texas Hill Country area
A map of Kerr County, showing Camp Mystic and Kerrville

Camp Mystic

Mr Abbot planned to make another visit to Camp Mystic.

The century-old all-girls Christian summer camp was badly hit by the flash floods, with at least 27 campers and counsellors dying.

Hanna Lawrence, left, and Rebecca Lawrence, right. Pic: John Lawrence/AP
Image:
Hanna Lawrence, left, and Rebecca Lawrence, right. Pic: John Lawrence/AP

Lila Bonner (L), 9, and Eloise Peck, 9, both died in the flash floods at Camp Mystic, Texas. Pic: Family handout
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Lila Bonner (L) and Eloise Peck both died in the flash floods at Camp Mystic, Texas. Pic: Family handout

Chloe Childress. Pic: Debra Alexander Photography via AP
Image:
Chloe Childress. Pic: Debra Alexander Photography via AP

Some of the victims include Hanna and Rebecca Lawrence, both eight, Chloe Childress, 19, who was among the counsellors at Camp Mystic when the flood hit, and Eloise Peck and Lila Bonner, both nine.

There were scenes of devastation at the camp as the flood water receded.

Outside the cabins where the girls had slept, mud-splattered blankets and pillows were scattered.

Also in the debris were pink, purple and light blue luggage, decorated with stickers.

A view inside a cabin at Camp Mystic after the flooding. Pic: Ronaldo Schemidt/AFP via Getty Images
Image:
A view inside a cabin at Camp Mystic after the flooding. Pic: Ronaldo Schemidt/AFP via Getty Images

Camper's belongings lie on the ground following flooding on the Guadalupe River, at Camp Mystic.
Pic: Reuters
Image:
Camper’s belongings lie on the ground following flooding on the Guadalupe River, at Camp Mystic.
Pic: Reuters

‘Everything looked flooded and broken’

One of the campers, 10-year-old Lucy Kennedy, told Sky’s US partner network, NBC News, that she woke up to the sound of thunder at around midnight before the floods struck.

“I couldn’t go back to sleep,” she said. “I just had a feeling that something really bad was about to happen.”

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She said the girls at the camp were told to grab blankets, pillows and water bottles and line up single file as the floodwater rose, before getting airlifted to safety.

Wynne Kennedy, Lucy’s mother, added: “When I saw her, she was wrapped up in a blanket, had a teddy bear.

“We just held each other tight, and I held her all night.”

Their home in Kerrville was also destroyed by the flash floods.

Lucy Kennedy, 10 who was rescued from Camp Mystic, and her mother Wynne. Pic: NBC
Image:
Lucy Kennedy, 10 who was rescued from Camp Mystic, and her mother Wynne. Pic: NBC

Political row

Meanwhile, a political row has unfolded parallel to the recovery efforts, with some questioning whether local authorities sent out warnings and alerts early enough.

Similarly, Democrats have criticised Donald Trump over cuts his Elon Musk-launched Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) has made to the National Weather Service – but it isn’t clear whether these actually made any difference.

Read more:
Sisters killed in Texas flooding found holding hands
Why did deadly Texas floods catch people by surprise?

Wall of water

The flash floods erupted before daybreak on Friday, after massive amounts of rainfall caused the Guadalupe River to rise by eight metres in less than an hour.

The wall of water overwhelmed cabins, tents and trails along the river’s edge.

Some survivors were found clinging to trees.

Some of the campers had to swim out of their cabin windows to get to safety, while others clung to rope to make it to higher ground.

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Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs sentencing hearing confirmed

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Sean 'Diddy' Combs sentencing hearing confirmed

The date for Sean “Diddy” Combs’s sentencing hearing has been confirmed.

Following his high-profile trial, the hip-hop mogul was found guilty of two counts of transportation for prostitution by jurors in Manhattan, New York, last week – but was cleared of sex-trafficking and racketeering conspiracy.

Defence lawyers argued Combs, who has been in prison in Brooklyn since his arrest in September last year, should be bailed ahead of sentencing given the not guilty verdicts for the more serious charges, but Judge Arun Subramanian denied this – citing, among other things, the rapper’s own admissions of previous violent behaviour.

Sean "Diddy" Combs reacts after verdicts are read of the five counts against him, during Combs' sex trafficking trial in New York City, New
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Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs in court after the verdict was delivered. Pic: Reuters/ Jane Rosenberg

The charges of sex-trafficking and racketeering conspiracy carried a potential life sentence. Combs still faces up to 20 years in prison for the prostitution-related offences, but is not expected to receive the maximum punishment.

After the verdict was delivered, the judge scheduled the sentencing hearing for 3 October. At a remote follow-up conference on Tuesday, with agreement from the defence and prosecution, the judge approved the date.

Combs joined the call but did not make any comment.

Any sentence will include credit for time already served – which will be just over a year by the time the hearing takes place.

During his trial, Combs was accused by prosecutors of abusing and coercing three alleged victims, including his former long-term partner, singer and model Cassie Ventura.

Jurors found the allegations did not amount to sex-trafficking or racketeering, or running a criminal enterprise – but they did find him guilty of transporting Cassie and another former girlfriend “Jane” for prostitution offences around the US, and paying male escorts to engage in sexual encounters.

Despite the guilty verdict on those charges, the 55-year-old’s team described it as “the victory of all victories”.

Read more:
How the trial unfolded
The rise and fall of Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs

In an interview over the weekend, defence lawyer Marc Agnifilo said Combs had received a standing ovation from fellow inmates when he returned to jail after being acquitted of the more serious charges.

“They all said, ‘We never get to see anyone who beats the government’,” he said.

Ahead of sentencing, Combs’s lawyers will file their recommendations by 19 September, with prosecutors likely to follow a week later.

Prosecutors previously said the rapper could face about four to five years in prison under federal sentencing guidelines, while the defence has suggested a two-year sentence.

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Why has Trump U-turned over Ukraine?

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Why has Trump U-turned over Ukraine?

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Donald Trump has said, again, that he is “not happy” with Vladimir Putin.

In an extraordinary cabinet meeting, the US president criticised his Russian counterpart, and announced he had approved sending defensive weapons to Ukraine.

After weeks of rejecting Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s request for defence support – why the sudden change of tact? Is Trump’s relationship with Putin fraying?

And what’s the latest as Trump hosts Benjamin Netanyahu again, a day after the Israeli prime minister announced he had nominated the US leader for the Nobel Peace Prize.

What next in hopes for a ceasefire in Gaza? Tariffs are also back. Trump announces more… and more.

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If you’ve got a question you’d like the Trump100 team to answer, you can email it to trump100@sky.uk.

You can also watch all episodes on our YouTube channel.

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