Jones: UFC announcement was unprofessional bully tactic

UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones recently appeared on Ariel Helwani’s The MMA Hour and discussed his latest contract negotiation with the UFC. Jones had said he wanted a fight with Daniel Cormier, while the UFC wanted and even announced a rematch with Alexander Gustafsson.

“Originally, I just kind of identified it as being like a strong arm technique on their part,” said Jones as transcribed by Brent Brookhouse for BE. “Get fans pushing for a fight prematurely. I hadn’t even heard that date before… I thought it was unprofessional, a bully tactic.”

Jones agreed when asked by Helwani if he thought the announcement was designed to make Jones look afraid.

“It looks like that’s what they were doing for sure,” said Jones. “It was annoying but I just needed to weather that storm and let everyone call me a chicken for a few weeks until I got to get in there and negotiate the contract.”

“I knew that them announcing the fight early was to get fans harassing me, pretty much. I just had to nevermind the masses and do what was best for me and my family.”

Jones also said “The Mauler” rematch was not going to be in Gustafsson’s native Sweden.

“It won’t be Sweden, no chance,” said Jones. “I have no reason to. I’m the champ and he’s the challenger, I don’t find it appropriate for me to go to his back yard.”

Jones was game to fight either in Toronto or Las Vegas.

“Bones” declined to offer any details on the new contract beyond saying that he was “extremely happy.”