Photo by Esther Lin for MMA Fighting.
The UFC officially confirmed today that light heavyweight champ Jon Jones will defend his title against former teammate Rashad Evans at UFC 145 in Atlanta, Georgia on April 21, 2012. This puts Jones' coach Greg Jackson in a somewhat awkward position as Evans was a long-time member of Jackson's MMA team and Jackson has often promised he would corner neither Jones nor Evans against each other.
Jackson is now indicating that he might be a little more flexible on the matter now based on his appearance on the Savage Dog Show:
"I've got to sit down and make my decision and see what I feel is best for the team. Not for me, because I have my own personal feelings where I never want to ever do that," Jackson said. "I'm going back and forth now because I have to think about what it means to be on a team. Are we just a collection of friends that train together? For me, it's much more than that. It means something to be on this team and it means something to have teammates.
"Rashad kind of left that. I don't know, I'm leaning toward cornering Jon right now," he added. "Just because, am I selfish, am I going to make this about me? Or am I gonna make this about the team? I can't be self-centered. Even though it's something that I don't want to do, it might end up that way.
"I still consider him a friend. Right now he's really angry, and he's saying a lot of negative things. I don't want much to do with that, so I'm just kind of keeping my distance, so that's where we're at."
Jackson also spoke to USA TODAY about the Jones/Evans situation:
Sergio Non: Is there any hope on your part that once you finally get past this grudge match between the two of them that you might be able to repair your relationship with Rashad?
Jackson: "I sure hope so. Right now -- I haven't talked to him much -- he's very negative and very angry. Part of that's my fault. I should have had these protocols in place before that happened and I didn't. We're all in this mess a little bit because of that.
"I mean, he didn't have react the way he did, but part of that -- so I don't want much to do with that right now, but maybe when he calms down, I certainly hope ... eventually when cooler heads prevail, we can all be friends again."
The complete UFC 145 card after the jump.
Jon Jones vs. Rashad Evans, LHW Title
Rory MacDonald vs. Che Mills
Brendan Schaub vs. Ben Rothwell
Mark Bocek vs. Matt Wiman
Travis Browne vs. Chad Griggs
John Makdessi vs. Anthony Njokuani
Mac Danzig vs. Efrain Escudero
Keith Wisniewski vs. Chris Clements
Maximo Blanco vs. Marcus Brimage
Miguel Torres vs. Michael McDonald
Mark Hominick vs Eddie Yagin
0 recs | 84 comments
Now I know where jon jones gets the phonyness from, greg whack-son
Hendo_One-Shot - February 7, 2012
slap yo self.
gspmademegay - February 7, 2012
Jackson, we all know how much you love Jones and want to corner him.
So just do it. This back and forth pandering is ridiculous.
pud333 - February 7, 2012
Yeah.
Whether or not Rashad got screwed over, Jones is his pupil now, and he should be doing everything he can to help out his guy.
ElliotMatheny - February 7, 2012
What should I do?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VUS4papO-Ec
gzl5000 - February 7, 2012
All this is highschool drama bs
DSAhawker - February 7, 2012
This is a goddamn breath of fresh air after the last 2 days.
OwMyArm - February 7, 2012 via mobile
Lost all respect for Jackson
Rashad (along with Diego Sanchez)is one of the main reasons that Jackson ever rose to prominence in the first place. The way he sat back and watched him walk out the door while coddling Jones was ridiculous, and now this? Jackson always tries to play the self-effacing nice guy but his true colors are starting to shine through.
Randomguy81 - February 7, 2012
You spelled GSP wrong.
Worldisart - February 7, 2012
The only person in MMA who is faker than Jon Jones (who at least has been less phony lately with that faux humility thing he was doing for a while) is Greg Jackson.
Diz D - February 7, 2012
Sorry, that's bullshit.
Sure- Rashad is a talented guy. But Jackson is responsible for his own success. The guy is a great fucking coach, and as much as Rashad helped the Jackson camp’s esteem, Greg helped Rashad grow into the fighter he is today. Greg would still be considered an elite MMA teacher without Rashad, and chances are- Rashad would still be an elite fighter without Jackson.
It’s a 2 way street.
ElliotMatheny - February 7, 2012
The fact
That he’s coached Keith Jardine into wins against good competition should be all the evidence we need of his ability.
Patrick Wyman - February 7, 2012
And yet who would have known about him if not for Rashad?
Would be have gotten any big name talent to come to Albuquerque if not for the success of Rashad? Who was he grooming for the big time before Rashad got there? Rashad owes A LOT of his success to Jackson but similarly Jackson owes a lot of his recognition to the success of Rashad on Season 2 and his subsequent successes since. To step out completely was the honorable thing to do, to take the side of the young lion against the guy who validated your name is treacherous.
Randomguy81 - February 7, 2012
He did step out completely. And then Rashad left the camp. Rashad isn’t his student any more, Jones still is. Jackson has an obligation to the guys training at his gym and paying for his services. Rashad is no longer one of those people.
Worldisart - February 7, 2012
Completely false
Jackson himself has admitted to making mistakes in not having a protocol before this happened for teammate vs teammate fights. When Jones broke his word and said that he would fight Rashad that’s when things started to flare up. It was Rashads belief that Jackson didn’t have his back that made him leave. Is Rashad being a bit petulant in that JBJ is now the “Alpha Male”? Absolutely. Is Jackson guilty of not being loyal and coming up with a way to make things work with the guy who put his name in the public eye? Absolutely.
Both are at fault but one is taking a stand against the other now and that shows a lack of character. I guess $$$ > loyalty, honor and respect
Randomguy81 - February 7, 2012
What's false about what I said?
I never said the reasons why Rashad left. He certainly wasn’t kicked out. He made his choice.
As for this:
You’re absolutely right that money is more important than those things. The UFC is a professional sports organization and it’s a business. Don’t be so fucking naive as to think that everyone involved isn’t in it primarily for the money, Rashad, Jackson, Jones, everyone.
Worldisart - February 7, 2012
He did step out completely. And then Rashad left the camp.
False. Jackson never stepped out completely. He was 100% non-committal before Rashad left.
As for the money: The UFC is a professional sports organization but Jackson/Winklejon is NOT affiliated with the UFC. Jackson wants to think of himself as a true martial artist but the martial arts have had codes of honor and loyalty for centuries before MMA came along. In most situations a trainer would NEVER even consider ever scheming against a former student unless that student were to directly challenge them. I haven’t seen Rashad do any such thing. He has challenged Bones and Jackson should do the honorable thing and step aside however he’s more concerned with the $ than the martial way.
Randomguy81 - February 7, 2012
They all are
And if you really believe otherwise than you’re an idiot.
Worldisart - February 7, 2012
why?
DHK had offers from many American gyms but he stayed with his old gym Busan Team MAD because he believes the gym built from a judo guy who didn’t have any mma experience to who he is today. And his team’s head coach Yang Seung Hun asked DHK to leave his gym and move on to big gyms but DHK refused.
Busan Team MAD only takes 15% of fighter’s paycheck (when other gyms take 35% to even 50%) because their head coach knows how hard it is to live as a fighter and he wants to help them.
this is only one example but I believe there are many fighters and people who are in MMA industry who consider loyalty, honor, and respect more than money.
i dont think " $$$ > loyalty, honor and respect" is a naive thought at all.
DK_Monster - February 7, 2012
oops
i meant $$$ < loyalty, honor and respect
sorry
DK_Monster - February 7, 2012
50%? no shit?
gspmademegay - February 7, 2012
BREAKING:
This number confirmed to be complete and utter bullshit. 35 may as well.
halitosis - February 7, 2012 via mobile
nice.
gspmademegay - February 7, 2012
believe it or not its true
you just don’t know enough about asian mma
DK_Monster - February 8, 2012
i would love to post the interview but since none of you guys can read korean so ....
yea …
DK_Monster - February 8, 2012
Simple solution
Come out and admit that you’re more about the $ than the honor of the martial arts. You can’t have your cake and eat it too.
Randomguy81 - February 7, 2012
What the hell is this, the set of Highlander?
Centuries old codes? What the hell? Did I stumble into a AD&D revival club meeting?
Rashad left Jackson’s camp in a hissy fit because Jones said he’d fight Rashad if told to by Zuffa while being interviewed less than 3 minutes after a his fight had just ended. You know, Zuffa? The same people that pay Jones hundreds of thousands of dollars to fight?
Rashad whined, Rashad threw his hissy fit and Rashad walked out the door of Jackson’s. No one forced him out, no one gave him an ultimatum. It was Rashad’s mouth that caused Rashad to leave Jackson’s, and Rashad alone.
Jackson doesn’t have two fighters in this fight, he has one. The other one left Jackson’s camp of his own accord. Well, don’t let the door hit you in the ass on teh way out, and Jackson should be in Jones’ corner.
duck - February 7, 2012
I fucking love all that jedi shit.
Rashad turning to the dark side and Jackson going all yoda jedi forgiveness on it, Jones as the fucking chosen one… Great drama.
Sweet Scientist - February 7, 2012
Erm…3 minutes after his fight ended? Didn’t Jones say that on Inside MMA or some-such show?
KGNLuc - February 8, 2012
No
He was asked a question at a post fight press conference IIRC
halitosis - February 11, 2012
Not quite accurate. JBJ answered a question, saying he would fight Rashad if it came down to them being fired from the UFC if they didnt. Jackson did not say anything because they obviously were not in that position… Rashad blew all this up into something it wasn’t and left.
So yeah, Jackson should have had protocols, but he is definitely not guilty of lacking loyalty.
schm1583 - February 7, 2012
Yeah, it was unfortunate that it had to happen this way.
I think that everyone bears some blame. Rashad was purportedly completely fine with Jones training at the camp, even though Jackson asked him specifically. It doesn’t sound like Evans and Jones really communicated well with eachother, and I wouldn’t be surprised if one or both of them both had designs on betrayal. Jackson & co are to blame for not being rigid and not dealing with this ahead of time, but I also think it was something that they had to learn the hard way.
ElliotMatheny - February 7, 2012
Im pretty sure another Greg Jackson fighter would have stepped up and become successful even if Rashad never went there. It’s just how great of a coach he is.
HipHopJunkie44 - February 8, 2012
Was going to pick the top option
Then saw the bottom option.
KJ Gould - February 7, 2012
greg jackson is the jon jones of mma coaches.
gspmademegay - February 7, 2012
He's good
but he’s no Michael Bisping
ElliotMatheny - February 7, 2012
not just talented
but will do whatever it takes to win, even blurring the lines of decency. plus, they both stress spirituality often, which seems to be in conflict with their true desires.
gspmademegay - February 7, 2012
That's actually a good comparison
ElliotMatheny - February 7, 2012
Do you think that his gym will eventually fall apart from being that way?
chrisbboy82 - February 7, 2012
Didn't Jones come out recently and say he wouldn't ask Jackson to corner him?
Not going to look super if/when that gets reversed.
Dave Strummer - February 7, 2012
why not, if jacksons making his own decision to do it?
gspmademegay - February 7, 2012
I think folks look for any reason to crap on JBJ
I don’t really care, since I’m a huge fan of his style, but I think he’ll catch shit for what will be viewed as a reversal.
Dave Strummer - February 7, 2012
seems like jacksons taking the lead here
nothing to hate on bones about (although people still will). personally, i dont see the big deal. jbj on the team, shad is not=corner jbj.
gspmademegay - February 7, 2012
I immediately thought of this
I think it’s a ploy
Jones says he won’t pressure Jackson
Jackson makes up his own mind
Jackson corners Jones
Transparent but Jones comes out of it well
Cunny - February 7, 2012
Greg Jackson is the worst rat I have ever seen.
OXYGENgone - February 7, 2012
You obviously don't watch Duke men' basketball.
duck - February 7, 2012
Yep, pretty awful.
Worse than Sandusky, Madoff, or any of those other dirtbags who are actually making the world worse with their existence.
Way to laser in on the worst rat any of us have ever seen (and by that, I mean a coach who didn’t handle a dispute between two grown men very well).
Get some perspective.
Forbidden Psychological Technology - February 7, 2012
Why all the hate on Jackson?
Rashad left, Jackson didn’t force him to leave.
Pantherhare - February 7, 2012
Gee, could it be because Jackson DID have a "protocol" in place?
And then conveniently decided to break it after Rashad was publicly following it.
Just a guess.
Django Z - February 7, 2012
Hopefully this will give Rashad extra motivation for knocking out JBJ
Then he can run over and spit at the corner men, a la Bisping.
Bill P. - February 7, 2012
that would be classless.
if he knocks him out, i would expect a gentleman like rashad to check on JBJ, get some fans.
gspmademegay - February 7, 2012
Or he could at least catch Jones on his way down, so he doesn't go all stanky leg
Jobumoplata - February 7, 2012
He can have all the motivation he wants.
He still ain’t getting out of Round 4.
duck - February 7, 2012
You must have a high opinion of Rashad
Thinking he makes it to round 4…jeez.
KGNLuc - February 8, 2012
Yup without being told too
LRaunThaDamaja - February 7, 2012
reply fail
and “to” fail
LRaunThaDamaja - February 7, 2012
both work ;)
Pooman - February 7, 2012 via mobile
I think Jackson is an opportunist, but he doesn’t want anyone to know it because it would probably really hinder his ability to attract high-profile names to his team and make the most money.
He’s shown time and time again that he will side with whoever he feels is going to win. He doesn’t have loyalty. I’m sure once another guy comes along who Jackson feels can beat Bones, he’ll spend more time with them until Bones eventually leaves, feeling betrayed like so many others have and Jackson will just say, “aww shucks, yeah, it’s tough. Bones was like a son to me, but I have to respect his choice of leaving.”
NoHo - February 7, 2012
Jackson never took sides, Rashad left.
schm1583 - February 7, 2012
He’s a businessman with a nice-guy act. He’s no different than most people who own a gym, except he insists on acting super-nice in public.
It’s also worth noting that he did the exact same thing with Diego and GSP. But I don’t expect Rashad to come back like Diego did.
crazybones - February 7, 2012
It’s easy for us to say this, but I do wonder if people that train under him or people close to him perceive him that way. We see a couple incidents, and it’s easy to assume the worst about the guy.
chrisbboy82 - February 7, 2012
I don’t assume anything except that he owns a gym. If you own a gym, you want the best fighters to train at your gym, and you’re always going to pay more attention to those guys. He didn’t force Diego or Rashad out. They left because they weren’t his top priority anymore.
The only difference between Jackson and most head coaches is that he’s a public figure – and he happens to act really nice in front of the camera.
crazybones - February 7, 2012
Sorry. I interpreted the “businessman with a nice-guy act” as you assuming something about him. I think it was the word “act” that made the misinterpretation.
chrisbboy82 - February 8, 2012
well put nohomo. recd.
gspmademegay - February 7, 2012
I don’t even know why it would be an issue. Rashad left damn near a year ago now and HE left. I like Rashad too but I think Jackson should be able to corner who ever the hell he wants too on his team without having to be scrutinized.
Sir Jacob of Ortingham - February 7, 2012
It’s complicated. If I were in Jacksons position id probably be doing the same thing. It’s a tough decision. Lol he’s deciding if its ok to teach his current student how to beat the shit of his former student/friend.
I’m interested in whether or not all this infighting and decision-making will effect all the Jackson MMA fighters. GSP vs Condit, Diego a couple wins from another title shot, Jones vs Evans.
ProfessorBLove - February 7, 2012 via mobile
dont think diego will be an issue.
gspmademegay - February 7, 2012
AKA guys wont even consider fighting each other. No drama there between fighters.
Scrap Pack wont ever consider fighting each other. No drama there between fighters.
Jackson’s fighters will consider fighting each other. Drama
Seems like Jackson’s is just a place where fighters go now. They dont consider each other family like the other two camps i spoke about.
Just my opinion
PhinsAllDay - February 7, 2012
Those other two camps aren’t nearly as large. You put enough high level fighters in the same camp and inevitably the issue of them fighting for number one contender spots and titles is going to come up.
Worldisart - February 7, 2012
You make a good point. I didn't take into consideration the size of the camps
PhinsAllDay - February 7, 2012
Yes, but why have such a large camp?
Oh yeah, for the money.
Django Z - February 7, 2012
People go where they can get the best training and where they feel they can get the most success.
HipHopJunkie44 - February 8, 2012
To be honest, I don’t really understand the team mentality in an individuals sport. I understand you have your coaches, but you pay them to coach you. It’s not like team sports where you don’t pay your coaches at the top level, everyone is payed by the owner.
I understand that these fighters who train together are bound to become friends, and if spending enough time together like family. But they have to understand that there’s always a possibility of fighting one another. This is a business. If they really are friends they’ll understand that the fight is simply a matter of money, and at the end of the day it won’t be so dramatic.
I’m just baffled by all the team stuff is all. Can someone help me understand the mentality?
tattlerat - February 7, 2012
one part of the fighter loyalty within a camp is to get the best of your sparring partners, you learn their capabilities and limits. If there is an understanding that they may have to fight each other, one may hold back something, keeping their partner from getting the most from their training. Or something to that efect
troyd - February 7, 2012
Yeah it's not like boxing
In boxing they hire people to come in for their camps(Lesnar did something similar with death clutch) who match their opponent’s style. In MMA they generally train together all the time.
HaterSlayer - February 7, 2012
I have some questions
1: How many fighters at each division should any camp work with? If there are no limits, and there’s an AKA situation, then what happens? For example: What if GSP wasn’t around, and Fitch was champ and Kos the #1 contender. (lol at that scenario, I know) The path for Kos and Fitch in that situation is unclear.
As a sidenote, should the UFC try to influence how many fighters in a weight class train in the same camp? It is certainly NOT in their best interest to have a deadlock due to camp loyalty.
2: How long after a fighter leaves a camp should the former trainer wait before cornering against him? This question seems easier to answer, because it should be addressed in the contract writing phase, before a fighter joins a camp.
DankNabbot - February 7, 2012
Rashad made it worse then it really was.
Kos and Fitch are best friends and have been training with eachother since they started the sport.
Rashad and Jones weren’t friends, and had only been training together for a year or two tops.
Plus Kos and Fitch said that they would move up in weight or retire before fighting the other, so I don’t think they’d budge on that one.
Look at Xtreme Couture. Evan Duhnam fought Tyson Griffin, and there is no bad blood between either fighter and Xtreme Couture coaches (to my knowledge).
Condit vs. GSP… Again, both fighters have mutual trainers, yet I’m sure after this fight, both fighters will still be able to work with Jacksons MMA without a problem.
Fedorable - February 7, 2012
These are good questions to be asking
But different camps have very, very different atmospheres. Some (I’ve heard this said of Xtreme Couture, can’t speak to its accuracy) are all business, and there’s no deeper obstacle to guys fighting each other; others are all about the family/team dynamic (old school Chute Boxe, e.g.), and guys would almost certainly never fight each other.
Patrick Wyman - February 7, 2012
So I guess
It depends a lot on the narrative being created by the camp, huh? If AKA fosters a family atmosphere, fighters will stick around longer maybe, it could be a good business strategy to keep up and comers once they’ve come all the way up, prevent the stepping stone phenomenon.
DankNabbot - February 7, 2012
Yeah true
I’m inclined to think AKA isn’t really all that familial, but sometimes it can be taken at face value; the guys who train at Kings MMA (Rafael Cordeiro’s team) really are personal friends in addition to being training partners. That’s the only camp I have any personal experience with, though.
Patrick Wyman - February 7, 2012
It seems to me Greg is about 75% full of shit
He’s obviously a brilliant coach, but this endless quest to portray himself as an awe shucks, down to earth great guy is wearing thin for me. I read a quote from him yesterday saying he’s “the worst coach at his camp” when asked about cornering Condit or GSP. Now he’s trying to say he really doesn’t want to corner Jones but maybe he should for the collective good of the team? Ugh.
There’s nothing wrong with Greg being a shrewd, ambitious and successful businessman. But doing so he tries to put on a fake humble, selfless persona is a little bit disgusting to me. He and Jones seem to be simpatico in this regard and probably both have second careers in politics waiting for them.
Anton Chigurh - February 7, 2012
Very well said.
I didn’t know it at the time all this crap broke loose, but Jackson and Jones are made for each other.
Django Z - February 7, 2012
But if Jackson doesnt corner Jones
Then how is Jonny gonna go out and win some fans?
ScoreCardOTN - February 7, 2012 via mobile
I hate anything related to this stupid feud. I can’t wait for UFC 145 to be over with Evans waking up in trainyards. Then we can move past this kindergarden feud and talk about MMA for a change.
Shnak - February 8, 2012
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