Exclusive Interview: Jon Jones Discusses Greg Jackson, Respect, and His Management at ‘MMA Live’

As promised, here’s Brian J. D’Souza‘s video interview with Jon Jones at the ‘MMA Live 1‘ show last week in London, Ontario. Some highlights:

On his initial decision to train with Greg Jackson: “I was watching his professionalism with Georges St. Pierre and a few other fighters, and I thought ‘man, if I could get all that brilliant energy pointed towards me, they probably could do something really special,’ and that’s what they’ve done I think…who knows what would have happened if I decided to [train] somewhere else, but Jackson’s seemed like the place for me. I remember our first meeting, they were talking about respect, and working hard, and family, and things like that, and that was something that drew me towards them.”

As promised, here’s Brian J. D’Souza‘s video interview with Jon Jones at the ‘MMA Live 1‘ show last week in London, Ontario. Some highlights:

On his initial decision to train with Greg Jackson: “I was watching his professionalism with Georges St. Pierre and a few other fighters, and I thought ‘man, if I could get all that brilliant energy pointed towards me, they probably could do something really special,’ and that’s what they’ve done I think…who knows what would have happened if I decided to [train] somewhere else, but Jackson’s seemed like the place for me. I remember our first meeting, they were talking about respect, and working hard, and family, and things like that, and that was something that drew me towards them.”

On setting an example as a UFC champion: “My only goal is just to represent our sport in the best light, and to treat people with love and respect, and never look past anyone, and respect everyone, pretty much, and let everything else take care of itself.”

On the recent shift in his management team: “My manager’s always been Malki Kawa, despite who partnered up with us. It was always about Malki Kawa. He’s a very close friend to me, and he’s a business partner, so everything’s still smooth sailing. We’ve been doing great by ourselves and we’ll continue to do great.”

Jon Jones Says He’s Open to Fighting Machida or Rampage In the Interim if He Has to Wait for Bout With Rashad

(Video courtesy of YouTube/MMACanada)

When news got out last week that the hand injury that forced Jon Jones out of his planned UFC 133 meeting with disgruntled former teammate Rashad Evans did not require surgery, and that the UFC light heavyweight champ’s manager Malki Kawa intimated that his client was likely to fight another opponent before facing Rashad, our first thought was, “Damn, it looks like Bones is just doing whatever he can to screw Rashad out of his shot.”

But then we said, “Nah, it must just be a coincidence,” when we heard Jones say they consulted with three doctors before deciding to forgo surgery and that, not to worry, he will still face Rashad somewhere down the road.

Well, it’s looking like our first inclination may have been correct.


(Video courtesy of YouTube/MMACanada)

When news got out last week that the hand injury that forced Jon Jones out of his planned UFC 133 meeting with disgruntled former teammate Rashad Evans did not require surgery, and that the UFC light heavyweight champ’s manager Malki Kawa intimated that his client was likely to fight another opponent before facing Rashad, our first thought was, “Damn, it looks like Bones is just doing whatever he can to screw Rashad out of his shot.”

But then we said, “Nah, it must just be a coincidence,” when we heard Jones say they consulted with three doctors before deciding to forgo surgery and that, not to worry, he will still face Rashad somewhere down the road.

Well, it’s looking like our first inclination may have been correct.

In the video above Jones, who once said he would fake an injury to get out of fighting a teammate, stated that there’s plenty of time for him to fight Rashad, but before the fight happens he may take a bout with Quinton Jackson or Lyoto Machida to keep active, which is curious since neither fighter necessarily deserves the a title shot at the moment.

Machida is 1-2 in his last three bouts and the win he did get was against Randy Couture, who retired following the bout. Rampage has fared slightly better in his recent bouts especially in his razor close decision win over Machida at UFC 123 in November, but a win over a UFC castaway like Keith Jardine and a middleweight like Wanderlei Silva doesn’t make you a contender. Moving on.

You may recall the furor that erupted last week when Kawa said that there wasn’t enough time for Jones to prepare to step in for his UFC 133 replacement Phil Davis to fight Rashad because he would need eight weeks for such an important camp. The day Kawa tweeted the message, was exactly eight weeks out from the bout. The problem is, Jones is still in a brace and although he was told by doctors that he didn’t require surgery for the injury, he was not given medical clearance to fight. There’s a big difference between the two.

Jon Jones Elects to Not Have Surgery on Injured Hand

Filed under: UFC, NewsUFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones will not be having surgery on his injured right hand after all.

Jones’ agent Malki Kawa confirmed the news via Twitter and to MMA Fighting Friday.

According to Kawa, Jones flew to Las Veg…

Filed under: ,

UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones will not be having surgery on his injured right hand after all.

Jones’ agent Malki Kawa confirmed the news via Twitter and to MMA Fighting Friday.

According to Kawa, Jones flew to Las Vegas earlier in the week to meet with hand specialist Dr. James Vahey. Jones’ surgery was scheduled for Thursday, but after meeting with Dr. Vahey on Wednesday, Jones was advised against surgery and told that it would have been too invasive.

Major Management Group Shakeup Splits Jon Jones, Rashad Evans

Filed under: UFC, NewsAuthentic Sports Management and First Round Management merged in February 2011, making them a major player in the MMA world, but the short-lived partnership is already over.

In a joint statement, the company announced that manage…

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Authentic Sports Management and First Round Management merged in February 2011, making them a major player in the MMA world, but the short-lived partnership is already over.

In a joint statement, the company announced that manager Malki Kawa would be leaving Authentic to resume operation of his First Round brand, and taking several of his key clients with him. Among them: the current UFC light-heavyweight champion Jon Jones.

Interestingly, Jones had been under the same management umbrella as his onetime friend but current rival, former UFC champ Rashad Evans. Evans, however, has chosen to stay on with Authentic, which will continue to be led by Glenn Robinson.

Florian’s Featherweight Future: ‘A Top Contender, Then Aldo in Brazil’

(Plan your work, work your plan. PicProps: ESPN)
You didn’t think Kenny Florian would just drop to 145-pounds without a plan in mind, did you? If you did, you don’t know KenFlo. Nope, the now former perennial lightweight contender&rsqu…

(Plan your work, work your plan. PicProps: ESPN)

You didn’t think Kenny Florian would just drop to 145-pounds without a plan in mind, did you? If you did, you don’t know KenFlo. Nope, the now former perennial lightweight contender’s camp has a pretty detailed blueprint of what they’d like to see Florian do at featherweight. As manager Malki Kawa tells MMA Weekly on Wednesday, they think their guy will be on the fast-track to the top once he returns from a knee injury and gets his weight headed in the right direction. Check it out:

“A top contender,” Kawa says about Florian’s first 145-pound opponent. “Whoever the No. 1 contender is at that point is the guy I’d like to get. What would be my ideal situation is for him to get a fight in June, whoever the No. 1 contender is, win that fight and then hopefully set something up for Brazil with (Jose) Aldo, if the UFC’s up for it.”

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The MMA Hour With Carlos Condit, Herschel Walker in Studio

Filed under: UFC, Strikeforce, FanHouse Exclusive, VideosMonday’s two-hour edition of The MMA Hour features three in studio guests.

* We will first be joined by welterweight Carlos Condit and his agent Malki Kawa. The former WEC welterweight champion …

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Monday’s two-hour edition of The MMA Hour features three in studio guests.

* We will first be joined by welterweight Carlos Condit and his agent Malki Kawa. The former WEC welterweight champion will stop by before he heads out to London for his UFC 120 showdown against Dan Hardy.

* Speaking of UFC 120, Marshall Zelaznik, the UFC UK President and Managing Director of International Development, will also stop by to preview Saturday night’s event.

* Later in the show, we will be joined in studio by former Heisman Trophy winner and NFL star turned MMA fighter Herschel Walker, who is scheduled to compete again for Strikeforce on Dec. 4.

Give us a shout at 212-254-0193 or 212-254-0237 during the show to ask us or one of our guests a question.

Download this show and previous episodes of The MMA Hour on iTunes here.

The MMA Hour begins below beginning at 1 PM ET.