Jon Jones And Daniel Cormier Duke It Out At Press Event [Video]

UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones got in a fist fight with Daniel Cormier at a media event at the MGM Grand Hotel on Monday.

According to ESPN, Jones and Cormier had come together at the MGM Grand Garden Arena for a press conference to promote a title fight between the two of them happening on September 27. Jones and Cormier touched foreheads to get a photo of a stare-down, but things heated up quickly from there. Cormier shoved Jones backwards. This provoked Jon Jones to attack Cormier full-on with fists flying.

While Jones and Cormier were fighting, UFC director of communications Dave Sholler tried to break them up. But Jon Jones pushed him away and continued to attack Cormier. Both fighters fell off the stage, nearly into a marble fountain. Jones threw punches at Cormier until MGM security officers pulled them apart.

Daniel Cormier was taken away, but Jon Jones stayed to taunt and flex in front of the audience that had gathered for the fight.

To see footage of the scuffle between Jones and Cormier, check out the video below:

According to the official UFC website, Kirk Hendrick, the UFC’s chief legal officer, released the following statement about the incident between Jones and Cormier:

“This is certainly not a proud moment for the UFC organization,” said Hendrick. “We expect more from our athletes, especially these two gentlemen, who are very well-trained and highly educated professionals. Their actions were clearly a violation of the UFC’s code of conduct. There are going to be ramifications. Whether you’re the champion, or this is your first fight in the UFC, there are going to be ramifications from the UFC for these actions.”

According to Press Connects, Jon Jones later spoke to ESPN’s Sportscenter.

“Definitely not proud of what happened,” said Jones. “In the UFC, it’s very common to see two athletes get very close in their face-offs. Our heads touch. Our noses rub together. It’s very intimate, a very passionate moment for a lot of fighters. I’ve actually never had a fighter put his hands on me. … I reacted in self-defense by beating up Daniel.”

Daniel Cormier called the apology phony and responded with the following statement:

“I will never, ever allow a man — I don’t care if it’s Mike Tyson in his prime, I don’t care if it’s Wladimir Klitschko — no one will ever nudge me forward with their head and not expect a reaction,” Cormier said. “I have a son. I will teach my son not to allow anyone to bully him. Jon Jones will never bully me. Jon Jones is apologizing. Hey, I’m glad he apologized. I apologize for our actions. But it’s so fake. Jon Jones, he’s a fake individual. He’s a fake person, and I’m going to beat him up on Sept. 27.”

For more on UFC, check out The Inquisitr’s last report on Jon Jones supposedly ducking out of a rematch.