Jon Jones & Rashad Evans – UFC 145
Recently UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones let it be known that he would no longer be sponsored by FORM Athletics after the company closed it’s doors, and that he would be sponsored by the Ultimate Fighting Championship itself for his upcoming UFC 145 bout versus opponent Rashad Evans.
Jones spoke about the sponsorship deal recently (quote MMAWeekly.com).
“We came up with a strategy to keep it clean and be sponsored by the UFC itself. I’m glad the UFC wanted to work with me as well, and I think that they trust that I’ll never make them look bad. You never have to worry about me with a DWI (driving while under the influence) or doing something crazy,” Jones explained.
“I think I’m a good company guy. The UFC asks me to do anything and I always do it, and I never tell them no for anything. I’ve had to do more marketing than any other fighter because I say no to absolutely nothing. I don’t think most champs are like that.”
Now saying all of this, one might expect Evans to be severely put off after having your opponent sponsored by the same promotion that both of you work for.
Not so say’s Evans, who spoke about the sponsorship deal as a guest on The MMA Hour (@MMAFighting.com) on Monday. Reading what ‘Suga’ has to say though, it’s certain that there is some underlying animosity there.
“I guess it is what it is,” he said on Monday’s edition of The MMA Hour. “It seems they got their guy that they’re going to get behind, I guess. I can’t really say too much about that. I just got to go in there and do what I need to do. I can’t really worry about that. I can’t really worry about who they favor or who they may like. It doesn’t change anything.”
“If they’re sponsoring him, it may seem that way,” he said. “But you know, honestly, it doesn’t matter if they favor him or not. They have guys they want to get behind, so if they want to get behind him, that’s on them. It doesn’t bother me though.”
The two fighters are set to meet this Saturday (April 21, 2012) in the main event of UFC 145: Jones vs. Evans at the Philips Arena in Atlanta, Georgia.