Photo by Esther Lin for MMA Fighting.
UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jone tweeted last night that his coach Greg Jackson will indeed corner him against former teammate Rashad Evans at UFC 145 in Atlanta, Georgia.
Jones had said at last week's UFC 145 press conference that he didn't expect Jackson to corner him.
Evans trained at Jackson's MMA long before Jones and originally the two had vowed never to fight. That all fell apart when Evans had to bow out of a UFC 128 title shot against Mauricio "Shogun" Rua and Jones stepped up and took the title.
Evans and Jones quickly ceased being friends and Evans left Jackson's MMA as part of the fall out.
Jackson originally had said he would never corner one of the two against the other, but recently rethought his position. Essentially Jackson concluded that since Evans left the team that he owed it to the team to corner Jones.
ESPN Magazine recently did an in-depth feature on the Jones-Evans rivalry and how Dana White and other UFC officials egged it on.
Here's Jones' tweet:
@Jonnybones
Jon Bones Jones Greg Jackson confirmed today he will be in my corner for UFC 145
Favorite Retweet
0 recs | 95 comments
Good news everyone!
Let’s see what Shad will have to say…
voiceinthedesert - February 19, 2012
Didn't see this one comingCunny - February 19, 2012
yesssssss jon
feel the hate flow through you
gspmademegay - February 19, 2012
Its so funny
Greg Jackson has to be the only person in the MMA community to have opposite Star Wars comparisons thrown his way.
He’s been described as the “Yoda” of MMA, and also the Emperor.
Love it.
Body Triangle - February 19, 2012
actually, i think goldie once referred to guillard
as both lando calrissian and darth vader.
gspmademegay - February 19, 2012
Good good
warren305 - February 19, 2012 via mobile
Good good
warren305 - February 19, 2012 via mobile
Unlimited Power!!!
Hugin - February 19, 2012 via mobile
something something something dark side something something complete
Chris Groves - February 19, 2012
well thats one way to piss rashad off even more greg
benten20 - February 19, 2012 via mobile
Evans is a professional. I just can’t really see Jackson cornering Jones as something that would piss Evans off. I mean, Evans has already left Jackson’s and made his own camp, so it would be naive of Evans to think that a coach from a different camp wouldn’t corner his own fighter.
chrisbboy82 - February 19, 2012
jackson said he wants to repair their friendship when this is over
I was referencing to that when I said that’s a way to piss him off. In other words he’s making it much harder to repair the friendship if he corners Jones
benten20 - February 19, 2012 via mobile
I kind of doubt it. Once again, it’s business, and I would think that Evans understands that as he comes off as a professional when it comes to the business side of MMA.
chrisbboy82 - February 19, 2012
he hasnt spoken to greg for a year or something
It’s personal.
benten20 - February 19, 2012 via mobile
The same Evans who got pissed and left Jacksons because Jones answered a hypothetical question about the only way he would fight Evans is if they would get cut otherwise, Evans?
schm1583 - February 20, 2012
Not surprising...
Jackson is a phenomenal coach, but, a man of his word he is not.
ChuteLegend - February 19, 2012
What makes you say that?
Are there other times he has proven not to be a man of his word?
MichaelDavidSmith - February 19, 2012
Didn't you know?
Because he’s associated with Jon Jones, and because he told Jones to “go get some fans”, he’s now the most phony person in MMA…
…just behind Jon Jones.
Fedorable - February 19, 2012
A loooot more to it than that. Plus, Jones has been much less fake lately.
Diz D - February 19, 2012
Huh? This story makes it clear he's not a man of his word
He ave his word, and then broke it. Kinda similar to this ENTIRE issues with Rashad and Jon. Greg Jackson is not a man of his word. Point blank.
warren305 - February 19, 2012
Did he say that when Rashad was still with them?
If so, the circumstances are very different and it’s fine for him to go back on his word.
halitosis - February 19, 2012 via mobile
Nope. Said it a couple months ago.
Literally nothing has changed, except Jackson’s integrity.
warren305 - February 19, 2012
A man has a right to change his mind
This is a situation that didn’t have anything to do with integrity. Rashad left his camp so why should Greg worry about a guy who that doesn’t want to be there when he can help someone who does?
HaterSlayer - February 19, 2012
Greg Jackson flat out said at the beginning of this breakup, he wanted nothing to do with that fight.
In my opinion he was just covering his bases. When he said this Jones just defeated shogun and rashad was next, in the event jon was not that good and rashad won why would he not leave the door open for rashad to come back!? Its a very narccistic view but I truly believe this is his reasoning.
ChuteLegend - February 19, 2012
Because he previously said so?
Its the right business decision for Jackson to make, but he’s betraying a personal relationship to do so. To act like he’s not is ignoring what Jackson himself has said.
The Lethal Haze - February 19, 2012
There was a recent interview with Jackson where he went into his thought process with this
He explained that he’s personally uncomfortable with cornering Jones against Evans, but realizes his job as a coach is to help his fighters win. At the time, he was pretty much trying to determine whether he did what made sense to him as a man or what was best for his fighter.
I don’t think that’s an integrity issue.
Tedd Welch - February 19, 2012
if you are willing to compromise your personal feelings on an issue
because it makes good business sense, how is that not reflective of your integrity?
The Lethal Haze - February 19, 2012
WTF is this 'business sense' BS that you keep bringing up?
It’s not about business. He’s not going to make more money by doing this or grow his business. If anything, it hurts his image due to people like you.
He’s doing it out of team loyalty. He’s uncomfortable doing it, but it’s not beneficial to his fighter for Greg to step away when he’s most needed.
Only MMA fans could possibly spin someone doing something they don’t like to help those around him as a reflecting poorly on his integrity…
paythefighters - February 20, 2012
Please show when he has broken his word once
schm1583 - February 20, 2012
This is a case where it's not that simple
The circumstances kind of make this okay
halitosis - February 19, 2012
whatever
Greg Jackson’s mind-f*** tricks may work on mere mortals but I will always cheer for whoever fighting Greg Jackson fighters. His evil smile, his shady tactics, … they all turn me off. Jones does sound fake. Let’s get real. The problem here is Rashad is no saint. oh well. Rashad ain’t winning this
SheepleBuster - February 19, 2012
That is ridiculous.
Also, choosing not to corner a current teammember because you have history with a former teammember would be whack as hell. He made the right move i think.
Magaca - February 19, 2012
"I will not corner Jon against Rashad"
“I will corner Jon against Rashad”
#Not a man of is word
warren305 - February 19, 2012
People can change their minds
It comes off very unrealistic and naive to hold Jackson to that quote. Jackson changed his mind, it’s that simple. Evans now has his own camp at Imperial Athletics/Blackzillians in Florida, and Jones is a member of Greg Jackson’s camp. I doubt that Evans is so naive and unprofessional as to be surprised or angered that Jackson would corner Jones. Jones is a part of the Jackson camp and a champion, so it makes sense for Greg Jackson to coach him.
The way that I felt months ago about something (heck, even days ago) may not be the same way that I feel today, and that should hold true for everyone, including Greg Jackson.
chrisbboy82 - February 19, 2012
If I were Rashad I wouldn't care
But we’re talking about Jackson being a man of integrity and keeping his word. He didn’t, he’s not. I don’t see how thats complicated or hard to grasp. He made a point of principle not to do something, then decided that he would, for his best interest. I’m not calling the man Hitler, or even saying that Rashad should be hurt/mad. I’m saying that Greg Jackson didn’t keep his word, and its kind of a pattern for the entire situation with Rashad. Not an opinion, that is a fact.
warren305 - February 19, 2012
Could you link to a specific quote from Greg that you think he's now breaking?
I’m aware that he has said in the past that he wouldn’t choose between two of his own guys, but when he said that, Rashad was still one of his guys. Now that Rashad has chosen to train elsewhere, I don’t think it’s necessarily wrong for Greg to re-think whether Rashad is still one of “his own guys.”
MichaelDavidSmith - February 19, 2012
Maybe, maybe not
warren305 - February 19, 2012
Why are you holding that against him so strictly?
He said that quote a while ago. Why are you holding that against him so strictly?
I don’t feel that Jackson should be held to that quote as the circumstances have changed. You are just using that quote as ammunition to attack his integrity, but you aren’t even trying to acknowledge that the situation is different with Evans having his own camp and whatnot. To my knowledge, Jackson said that quote when Evans was still with Jackson’s camp, so that quote I believe is a couple months old. What a person feels months ago may not be the same as they feel today.
I also mentioned that people can change their minds, especially in this case where Evans isn’t even a part of his camp anymore. That is not an opinion, that is fact.
chrisbboy82 - February 19, 2012
i dont think its crazy to question jacksons integrity
after hearing him demand that jones check on an unconscious machida just to ‘get some fans.’
so yes…
1. jacksons kind of a dick
2. its perfectly fine that hes cornering jones in this situation.
pretty simple.
gspmademegay - February 19, 2012
In context to what’s being talked about, it just seems like Jackson is being held to a particular quote that was said months ago, and that circumstances have changed since that quote was said. I don’t know Greg Jackson, and I do think it’s a bit unfair to say that “Jacksons kind of a dick” on the little information we have on the guy, especially if we don’t train under him or know him personally.
chrisbboy82 - February 19, 2012
dude, sorry
if my own mother told jones to check on machida to GET SOME FANS, id acknowledge that shes kind of a dick.
gspmademegay - February 19, 2012
I just look at things differently then. I look at it as I don’t know the guy personally, have little knowledge of the guy, and therefore, I don’t jump to conclusions about the guy (and this goes for any person). I will acknowledge that Jackson did tell Jones to say that, and it was a bizarre thing to say to someone, but I don’t feel it’s fair and that it’s disingenuous to base a person on one, or even a few occurrences.
chrisbboy82 - February 19, 2012
@hhdalailama: OMFG! Did Jackson just tell Jones to check on Machida to ‘Get some Fans?’ That’s fucked up. #C’mon, son!
gspmademegay - February 19, 2012
Well said. I find Greg Jackson almost nauseatingly transparent and synthetic, his psuedo nice guy act is awful.
The truth is he realised the money he would lose by not getting his arse in Joneses corner on the night and had a sudden change of heart.
sheikybaby - February 19, 2012
How have circumstances changed?
warren305 - February 19, 2012
To quote me, " To my knowledge, Jackson said that quote when Evans was still with Jackson’s camp, so that quote I believe is a couple months old." Evans has now made his own camp with Imperial Athletics/Blackzillians. It isn’t a case of two fighters who train under the same camp like when that quote was said.
chrisbboy82 - February 19, 2012
it now makes financial sense for Jackson to go back on his word
that’s how circumstances have changed.
If someone breaks their principled stance because it makes financial sense, how does that not speak to their character?
The Lethal Haze - February 19, 2012
exactly! not a man of his words at all.
Jon is real good, he got better with public but slight fakeness is there.
regarding Greg, how are other members of JacksonMMA are supposed to believe him from now on??? he says he won’t corner Jon against Shad, he trained Shad, knows him very well, I see this as a betrayal. nuffsaid on my part.
Nodir Shermatov - February 19, 2012
It's all the UFC's fault for egging it on!
These grown men cannot be held responsible for their own decisions.
Dana White is to blame, he’s diabolical and scheming like the villain from that movie.
Hoo hoo ha ha ha ha haaa (evil laugh)
Come on, what are you kidding? These are adults, they make their own choices period.
Fatty Fish Belly - February 19, 2012
Oh man
I sense lots and lots of comments.
halitosis - February 19, 2012
Cue the Jackson/Jones hate and fake comments.
I don’t blame him.
He tried to stay out of it, and Rashad made it as personal as he could.
Fedorable - February 19, 2012
dunno why
but i hope rashad pulls off a freakish over hand right win…
sadly that will never happen
elmojo - February 19, 2012
You may get your wish though. Rashad is the first guy Jones has fought who can match and maybe even surpass him in the speed department.
sheikybaby - February 19, 2012
Most of Jones' opponents have been faster than him
Shogun, Machida.
And Jones’ wrestling is otherworldly, his elbows are hellish, and Rashad’s chin eats turd.
halitosis - February 19, 2012
Rashad’s chin eats turd?
gspmademegay - February 19, 2012
It was stupid that Jackson wouldn't
Rashad left. Sorry that you guts aren’t bros anymore but Jon Jones is still their, is a champ defending his title and he pays you Greg.
TMadeBurner - February 19, 2012 via mobile
This news
Ruined Rashad’s special morning.
halitosis - February 19, 2012
BOOMSHAKALAKA
good one Halitosis
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ - February 20, 2012
While this is somewhat justified, its kind of a dick move after being so adamant about never cornering him against Rashad.
I really hope Rashad wins this, and I never thought I’d say that.
jammin.. - February 19, 2012
Why is it a dick move?
I don’t understand that reasoning. Rashad is not with him anymore. He owes Rashad nothing anymore.
TMadeBurner - February 19, 2012 via mobile
For all the reasons he said he wouldn't in the first place
He came out and said “I will not corner Jon in this fight” Now he’s doing it. That makes him a liar.
warren305 - February 19, 2012
In my view that’s an entirely too litteral version of what happened.
The real shitty move would have been not cornering your current student/teammate because he’s fighting a former teammate.
The fact is Rashad left. Jackson didn’t kick him out.
TMadeBurner - February 19, 2012 via mobile
That may be true. But nothing has changed since Greg said he wouldn't corner Jon
It was the exact same situation then, and he came made it a point to say it would be wrong for him to corner Jon against a fighter that he trained. What has changed? Nothing. Greg Jackson is a liar.
warren305 - February 19, 2012
That’s sort of disingenuous. I’m sure that at the time he made that statement he fully meant it. He changed his mind. You can do that and not be a liar.
TMadeBurner - February 19, 2012 via mobile
who cares if he lies to us
what’s most important here is he recognises what he said was stupid and he corrected it for the good of his fighter. the integrity of the camp and coaching is more important than the “lie”.
F'n Clownshoes - February 19, 2012
But… But… HE FUCKING LIED
TMadeBurner - February 19, 2012 via mobile
we all lie to save face.
he just got nicked. telling your fighter to get fans was a smart thing. getting caught on film……not so much.
F'n Clownshoes - February 19, 2012
Until someone can prove that Greg knew the whole time he was going to corner Bonez then I’m just going to move on and figure Greg changed his mind.
Changing your mind doesn’t equal lying.
TMadeBurner - February 19, 2012 via mobile
Exactly
halitosis - February 19, 2012
I PREFER TO LIVE IN A WORLD OF BLACK AND WHITE
HaterSlayer - February 19, 2012
When you understand what "your word" means
get back to us.
Taiter - February 19, 2012
You guys are fucking sticklers
halitosis - February 19, 2012
Since I don't know the definition of "your word"
any of you care to enlighten me?
Fact is people are calling Jackson a liar, which you can’t possibly confirm or not. Lying is intentionally not telling the truth and not a single person on Bloodh Elbow knows Jackson’s intention when he said he wouldn’t corner Bones against Shad.
But by all means, keep going with that narrative. It supports the Jon Jones and Greg Jackson are assholes theory that gains steam every day.
TMadeBurner - February 19, 2012 via mobile
DAMN YOU GREG!!
Mizu - February 19, 2012
what's he saying here
Cunny - February 19, 2012
'go get me some waffle fries
FO FREE!’
gspmademegay - February 19, 2012
nice
Cunny - February 19, 2012
God I hope Rashad wins
I want an Ali v Frasier type trilogy.
warren305 - February 19, 2012
Me too
Rashads history in Atlanta doesn’t hurt btw
AfroSamurai - February 19, 2012
Greg is a big liar and I hope Rashad wins.halitosis - February 19, 2012 via mobile
Correctomundo!!!!
Taiter - February 19, 2012
There u go!
He has an ugly face too
warren305 - February 19, 2012
I really hope GSP leaves this DUD....
and then goes on to beat the crap out of Condit with Jackson in his corner.
Taiter - February 19, 2012
To quote letter19 from the Mania article on the subject
I found that pretty funny
Horselover Fat - February 19, 2012
he forgot denying (greasing)
and trying (gameplanning, like a fuckin’ dick).
gspmademegay - February 19, 2012
Jackson explained his reasoning two weeks ago
To wit:
Jamie Penick - February 19, 2012
Typical fan translation:
“Too long to read, so I’ll just assume he’s lying so it could fuel my theory that he and Jones are the most evil things in MMA because ultimately these men’s professional decisions are directly linked to my personal life. Benefit of the doubt be damned.”
bustachong - February 19, 2012 via iPhone app
not cool
dalton77 - February 19, 2012
Jackson said he would not corner Jones. Rashad said he would not fight Jones.
Both have to make compromises because this is Pro MMA. Neither should have made such statements in the first place.
Fatty Fish Belly - February 19, 2012
what he said.....
Rashad did what he needed to do. (new camp/corner) Jones did what he needed to do. (win the belt) Now Jackson id doing what he needs to do. (support and coach/corner his fighter from his camp)
F'n Clownshoes - February 19, 2012
Greg Jackson is going to corner his own fighter
I would be more disappointed if he didn’t quite honestly.
discoandherpes - February 19, 2012
Did people actually think he wasn't going to be in Jon's corner?
From the start, it was pretty clear that this would happen. All that shit about Jones not wanting to have Jackson, it was just more manufactured Jon Jones nonsense.
Warbreezy - February 19, 2012
Just more proof (not that anymore was needed) that jackson has no loyalty to fighters he’s trained and is a front runner, the new rising star will always get preferential treatment from him over a fighter that has/had a long term relationship with him. I’m shocked top tier fighters continue to train with him
williambonney - February 19, 2012
Your mad because Jackson is going to corner someone that he trains?
It would be more disloyal to Jones if he didn’t corner him.
discoandherpes - February 19, 2012
I am a Rashad hater but have to admit even I am hoping he wins this fight (first and likely the only time I’ll be pulling for him)
williambonney - February 19, 2012
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