Jon Jones’ new promotion criticises UFC over former champion’s treatment
Jon Jones has found plenty of backing across the combat sports world in his ongoing standoff with the UFC. The announcement of the UFC White House event earlier this month came as a blow to many fans, especially with Jon Jones left off the card.
Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC Jon Jones has found plenty of backing across the combat sports world in his ongoing standoff with the UFC. The announcement of the UFC White House event earlier this month came as a blow to many fans, especially with Jon Jones left off the card. It soon emerged that ‘Bones’ was left out because he turned down a $15 million offer, a figure he and his team felt wasn’t enough.
However, Dana White has denied that Jones was ever in consideration for the card, which has only added more fuel to their ongoing dispute. Jon Jones gets support from his new promotion Photo by Dia Dipasupil/FilmMagic Jones is now a partner of IBA Bare-Knuckle, following his request to be released from the UFC. That decision was announced just weeks later.
The first event he will attend is coming up soon, with Yoel Romero facing Vagab Vagabov in the IBA Bare Knuckle 4 main event. Before that, the 38-year-old received public support from his new organisation, which also took a few shots at the UFC over how Jones was treated. “We’ve known Jon Jones for a long time, he visited our first event, he saw everything first hand – the atmosphere, the organization, our fighters’ level,” IBA Bare Knuckle CEO Alibek Gitinov said in an interview with Red Corner MMA.
“He liked our product. We’ve approached Jon with the respect he deserves and he expressed interest in becoming a part of our organization. “If the world’s biggest organizations for whatever reason aren’t appreciating their greatest fighters, we are ready to offer them a platform in forming the sport’s future.