EXCLUSIVE

UFC Light Heavyweight champ Jon "Bones" Jones was arrested early this morning for DUI after he totaled his Bentley in upstate New York ... TMZ has learned.

Law enforcement sources tell TMZ ... Jones was involved in an accident at around 5:00 AM in Binghamton, NY. We're told the car -- which Jones crashed into a pole -- was totaled and cops arrested Jones on the scene for DUI.

According to our sources, Jones was taken into custody by Broome County Sheriff and bailed out a few hours later ... by his mom. Jones is from nearby Ithaca.

How's this for irony? Jones filmed a video earlier this year about going through police training -- and he did it with the Broome County Sheriff ... the same agency that arrested him!

Jones last fought on April 21, defeating Rashad Evans by unanimous decision. His next scheduled fight is on September 1 in Las Vegas against Dan Henderson.

Jones's manager, Malki Kawa, released a statement saying, "I can confirm that Jon Jones was arrested early this morning on suspicion of DUI. 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."