One of MMA’s top camps isn’t exactly embracing their apologetic team photographer calling Cris Cyborg a man after UFC 219, but they are excusing it.
Never let it be said that good public relations isn’t a skill. Following UFC 219 credentialed Jackson-Winkeljohn photographer Mark Aragon took to social media to taunt Cris Cyborg as transgender for her recent win over Holly Holm.
“This dude is tough as hell! That being said at the press conference he said Holly was the first one to make his nose bleed! You are my hero @hollyholm see you back in the gym,” Aragon wrote, in an obvious attempt to slight the featherweight champion.
It was an ugly post, especially coming from someone involved in a major fight camp and in position to represent that camp publicly. All the moreso as it relates to a fighter like Holm, who has never seemed anything other than gracious in victory or defeat. The statement was deleted several hours after it went up.
But, that doesn’t mean that team JacksonWink MMA is looking to apologize for Aragon’s words. Instead, the camp issued a response on their Facebook page on Monday. And while they made it clear they “don’t condone putting others down,” most of the focus was on justifying their photographer’s actions.
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For his part, and with every bit as much excuse making, Aragon did issue a formal apology via Instagram. Cyborg made a statement of her own, following his initial comments, asking that he apologize or that the UFC pull his credentials. It appears he chose the former rather than risk the latter.
After a large amount of justification – all of which Aragon claims prompted his outburst – about how he had overheard Cyborg and her team reveling in the win and how ineffective “the b-tch,” Holm was in the clinch (among other things) Aragon wrote:
“… That being said, I am embarrassed by my actions and I sincerely apologize to @criscyborg and her friends, fans, and most importantly her family for posting such an ugly misrepresentation of a great hard earned championship retention. I also want to apologize to the members of team Jacksonwink who were effected [sic] by that insincere post.”
Likely all this will prove to be the end of the controversy, especially as JacksonWink seem intent on sticking by Aragon. Whether or not Holly Holm ends up with a rematch out of the whole thing, however, remains to be seen.