Video: Jon Jones, Daniel Cormier apologize on ESPN in aftermath of brawl

In the aftermath of Monday’s impromptu melee between Jon Jones and Daniel Cormier, the two still had a date with ESPN’s “SportsCenter” they had committed to.

Jones and Cormier appeared on the show just a couple hours after a faceoff went all kinds of wrong at MGM Grand Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, turning into a brief brawl in the lobby before the two were separated by public relations and security personnel.

The incident took place at a free-to-the-public media event to promote tickets going on sale later this week for the UFC 178 pay-per-view, which takes place Sept. 27 at MGM Grand Garden Arena in Vegas. Jones (20-1 MMA, 14-1 UFC) defends his 205-pound title against Cormier (15-0 MMA, 4-0 UFC) in the main event.

On “SportsCenter,” Jones started off by apologizing to the UFC and MGM Grand for the brawl, which started with him putting his forehead on Cormier’s, Cormier responding with a shove, and Jones dropping his championship belt to throw a left hand Cormier’s way before the two tumbled from the stage in a classic dust-up.

“I reacted in self defense by beating up Daniel,” Jones said.

But while Cormier ultimately offered an apology for the incident as well, the key takeaway from the interview with the two was Cormier’s insistence that Jones is “a fake individual, a fake person,” accompanied by multiple moments of laughter and eye rolling at the champion. Jones, Cormier said, is a “bully.”

Check out the full “SportsCenter” interview above.

Also see:

For more on UFC 178, check out the UFC Rumors section of the site.

view original article >>