During his fight with Glover Teixeira, UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones employed an open handed pawing style that a series of opponents have complained can lead to eye injury.

Fans even put together an eye poke highlight video:

UFC president Dana White addressed the issue at the time.

“We gotta stop that stuff,” said White. “The opening of the hands and putting the hands on the face. It’s something bad, but you know, it happens with guys who have reach.”

Jones later posted a video on Instagram mocking fan concern.

However, Jones recently acknowledged that it is something he needs to work on.

“I never said I didn’t think it was dirty,” said Jones, as transcribed by Anton Tabuena. “It’s something I do instinctively. It’s something that I need to work on, and it’s something that just happens. I realize that I do it, and I realize the criticism that I get for doing it, but it’s not on purpose. If you watch my fights, when people get poked in the eyes, it’s usually when I extend my arm out in a reactionary way. I do put my hands on people’s foreheads to maintain distance, but to say that I’m purposely trying to poke people in the eyes, it’s just inaccurate.”

“I’m not a malicious fighter. A lot of people said I’m a dirty fighter, but I’m really not a malicious person. I stomp everybody’s knees. It’s a tactic that I’ve been trained to do, so I’m sure I’m going to stomp him on the knee at some point. But as I said, it has nothing to do with his previous injuries, that’s just who I am and how I fight.”

Shortly after the interview, the brawl with Cormier broke out.