Being accused of posting incredibly offensive material online isn’t a good look for anyone, especially a young cage fighting champion in the midst of promoting a major Pay Per View event. In an age where ‘crying hacked’ has become the norm in PR spin, UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones‘ problems were further complicated by he and his manager, Malki Kawa, failing to have their story straight when news broke last week.
“At the time, the whole situation looked sticky because Malki was saying I lost my phone, which I did, but it had nothing to do with this whole situation,” Jones told reporters Monday in New York. “It’s one of those things that the people who have decided to hate me will never believe me about it.”
Speaking with Ariel Helwani Thursday in Baltimore, Kawa explained the inappropriate comments originated from an overzealous staffer charged with helping the fighter manage his online presence. According to Kawa, the individual took matters ‘way overboard’ and that it would be ‘crazy’ for fans to believe Jones would engage in that behavior.
“When we were at this media lunch this past week, Jon made it very clear,” said Kawa. “He’s like, ‘Look, I’ve been called a n***er on social media. I’ve been told that my family should die. I’ve been told that my kids should be molested.’ Fans have told him things like this and he’s never responded to stuff like that. So somebody responding, ‘Oh, you lost to Gustafsson,’ to some kids on Instagram is not what Jon Jones would do. That’s the crazy thing about this whole thing, that fans actually believed for a minute that Jon Jones would do something like this.”
Jones referred to those attacks earlier this week, stressing how he’s routinely dealing with far worse than idle trash talk from fans.
“I’ve had guys insult me for having a white fiancee and threatened my family’s life,” said Jones. “So I’ve dealt with some real social media [expletive]. I’ve had real-life stuff happen to me, so for somebody to say I lost to Gustafsson isn’t even worth getting my attention.”
According to Jones, the individual at fault no longer works for the team and he has changed his various passwords.
5 MUST-READ STORIES
‘Pit Bull’ is back. Andrei Arlovski returns to the UFC and could be next for Brendan Schaub.
Paper champion. Cris Cyborg responds to Dana White remarking that she looked like ‘Wanderlei Silva in a dress and heels’ and Ronda Rousey calling her an ‘it.’ “I’m not surprised (she wasn’t punished) because she’s UFC’s paper champion.”
‘People don’t dig the cold unknowable.’ Chuck Mindenhall explains how even after five years we still don’t know who Jon Jones really is.
No pressure. Dana White says Anthony Johnson will be banned from the UFC for life if he misses weight Friday afternoon.
Setback. A bum left hand and a possible TUF coaching gig could keep Cain Velasquez out of the Octagon for quite some time.
MEDIA STEW
Make sure to check out Ariel’s interviews with Jones, Glover, Davis, Rumble and, of course, the Dana White scrum.
Chuck Liddell talks retirement, Jon Jones vs. Glover Teixeira.
Dana would take Johnny Manziel No. 1 overall and all the ‘Ronda vs. Floyd’ talk you can handle.
Jones on underestimating Gustafsson and drinking the Kool-Aid.
Pro’s pick Jones vs. Glover.
GLORY 16 Denver pre-fight interview with Pat Barry.
TUF 19 Fight: Cathal Pendred vs. Hector Urbina.
Long watches.
Sherdog’s Press Row with Jordan Breen and Mike Bohn.
…
Knuckle Up #421: Werdum, Bisping, Khabib, Browne + the Joy/Pain of Soul-Crushing Reality
TWEETS
Congrats.
Thank you very much to Daina White for taking me back to UFC
— Andrei Arlovski (@AndreiArlovski) April 25, 2014
Brutal.
So much fun losing weight. #ufc http://t.co/7djvwt8Zn4
— Phil Davis (@PhilMrWonderful) April 24, 2014
More impressed about him going to Baltimore voluntarily.
Cowboy texts me sayn he landed in Baltimore, heard Ellenburgers guy fell, wants the fight & will start cutn weight now! Lol luv that kid
— Dana White (@danawhite) April 24, 2014
Not many options.
I will be fighting who???
— Hector Lombard (@HectorLombard) April 25, 2014
Get well soon.
Surgery was a great success! Big thanks to @ufc and @danawhite . I’ll be back in no time and will take no prisoners. pic.twitter.com/BHYoP52kK9
— Akira Corassani (@AkiraCorassani) April 24, 2014
Toilet pics abound.
Just waiting for housekeeping to walk in on the little guy pic.twitter.com/rFCicnxbAa
— Jon Bones Jones (@JonnyBones) April 24, 2014
This is one of those dresses where you can eat a big ‘ol Cuban dinner like I just did and still look… http://t.co/xsugQwL0XH
— Miesha Tate (@MieshaTate) April 25, 2014
No context needed.
The ninja turtle just kissed my daughter on the cheek. Now is the time to see if the Ninja Turtles can really fight or not !
— Derek Brunson (@DerekBrunsonMMA) April 25, 2014
When you make Glover look small…
FIGHT ANNOUNCEMENTS
Announced yesterday (Apr. 24 2014)
Scott Jorgensen vs. Danny Martinez at UFC Fight Night: Henderson vs. Khabilov
Myles Jury vs. Abel Trujillo at UFC Fight Night: Swanson vs. Stephens
Chris Camozzi vs. Bruno Santos at UFC 175
Aljamain Sterling vs. Hugo Viana at UFC Fight Night: Atlantic City
Anthony Perosh vs. Gian Villante at UFC Fight Night: Te-Huna vs. Marquardt
FANPOST OF THE DAY
Today’s Fanpost of the Day comes via heavyfl0w.
At approximately twelve noon on the 25th of last month, I posted an article about Chuck Liddell. Six hours later, I found out that one of my best friends on the planet, the man solely responsible for exposing me to MMA, had died. He was 30 years old.
I’ve probably told bits and pieces of this narrative before in this space, so I apologize if I get repetitive in spots.
We were driving. It was (I’m guessing) sometime in February of 2005. 2005 is the year most fans will point to as the jumping off point for MMA popularity in the US. The Ultimate Fighter reality program, Chuck Liddell, Dana White still flirting with the idea of attempting to publicly have hair. Lots going on.
…
Check out the rest of the post here.
Found something you’d like to see in the Morning Report? Just hit me up on Twitter @SaintMMA and we’ll include it in tomorrow’s column.