UFC champ Jon Jones arrested on DWI charge

Jon Jones, the UFC light heavyweight champion, was arrested and charged with driving while intoxicated early Saturday morning in upstate New York after his Bentley was involved in a one-car accident, the Binghamton Police Department confirmed to Newsday.

The accident was first reported by TMZ.

Jones crashed his Bentley into a pole near the corner of Grand Boulevard and Helen Street, Sgt. Chris Lason said. It was a one-car accident, and police were called to the scene at 5:02 a.m., Lason said. Jones was charged with DWI and released to his family on bond. He is due to return to a Binghamton court for arraignment at a later date.

Lason declined to comment on whether there were passengers in the car with Jones. They also declined to comment whether Jones was given a Breathalyzer test.

"I can confirm that Jon Jones was arrested early this morning on suspicion of DUI," Jones' manager Malki Kawa said in a statement. "While the facts of this situation are still being gathered and situated, First Round Management fully supports Jon, and we are asking for fans and media to respect the privacy of Jon and his family during this time."

Jones grew up in Ithaca and went to high school in Endicott, where he won a 2005 New York State wrestling title. He has a home in Ithaca, roughly 50 miles away from Binghamton, with his fiancee and their three children.

Since Jones (16-1, 10-1 UFC) won the title in March 2011, he has become the new face of the UFC. He has appeared in several commercials with UFC sponsors, including Bud Light.

Jones has successfully defended his 205-pound title three times and is scheduled to make a fourth defense against Dan Henderson on Sept. 1 at UFC 151 in Las Vegas.