You don’t talk business online.”įor better or worse, Abdelaziz has a history of successfully striking deals with the UFC. I’ve known this man for 16 years, but you can’t, somebody with Jon Jones’ caliber and his mystique, one of the greatest ever, he should not have to argue over Twitter about what he deserves or not deserve. And I hope – Dana White is not this hard to work with. I think Jon is a good guy – misunderstood a lot. I wish nothing but the best for Jon Jones. I got tagged so many times on Instagram and Twitter – I’m flattered, I’m honored. Anyway, it’s none of my business who Jon is managed (by), not managed (by). “I think Jon has been representing himself for the last three years anyway,” Abdelaziz told MMA Junkie on Tuesday. Since Ngannou claimed the UFC belt from Stipe Miocic at UFC 260, Jones has been very vocal on social media about his financial demands and wanting a bigger piece of payment to move up a weight class and fight one of the biggest power punchers the sport has ever seen.Ībdelaziz, who runs Dominance MMA and its star-studded roster of clients, thinks Jones is handling the situation the wrong way. The news came in the midst of what appears to be a drawn-out hardball negotiation between Jones and the UFC brass to secure an anticipated heavyweight title fight with Francis Ngannou. Jones (26-1 MMA, 20-1 UFC), a former multi-time UFC light heavyweight champion, announced Monday that he’s parting ways with his longtime team at First Round Management, headed by Malki and Abraham Kawa. Blakesley told MMA Fighting that Abdelaziz did not enter a diversion program, but did pay the fine.Ali Abdelaziz would be happy to advise Jon Jones after the former UFC champ’s split with First Round Management, even if it’s not in an official capacity. MMA Fighting reported that online records show Abdelaziz entered a diversion program and paid a $1,000 fine in exchange for the charge to be dismissed. The man said he was attacked by Abelaziz and other member’s of UFC welterweight champion Kamaru Usman’s entourage shortly after Usman won his title at UFC 235.Ĭovington would later say that he didn’t know the man at the center of the criminal complaint.
The alleged victim claimed to be a member of UFC welterweight Colby Covington’s entourage. That incident allegedly showed Abdelaziz assaulting a man in a buffet line at the Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas. The second battery charge Abdelaziz received last year stemmed from an incident that was caught on camera in March 2019. In 2012 he reportedly punched Malki Kawa, Abe Kawa’s brother, backstage at UFC 150.Ībdelaziz’s attorney Chris Blakesley told MMA Fighting that after meeting with a prosecutor both parties, “felt that it was best to move to move to dismiss.” Blakesley said there were no penalties or conditions imposed on Abdelaziz in relation to this case. This wasn’t the first time Abdelaziz has been accused of having a physical altercation with someone involved with First Round Management. According to The Athleticthe alleged assault happened because Abdelaziz believed that Kawa spread a rumour that Abdelaziz sexually assaulted a UFC staff member at an event in 2018.Īfter the incident at the PFL event Abdelaziz was reportedly barred from attending any more shows for that promotion. Multiple witnesses accused Abdelaziz of striking Kawa with a closed fist. On Monday a Nevada judge agreed to a motion from state prosecutors to dismiss a charge from October 2019 that stemmed from allegations that Abdelaziz assaulted Abe Kawa, another MMA manager and co-founder of First Round Management, at a PFL event. According to MMA Fighting’s Steve Marrocco MMA manager and founder of Dominance MMA Ali Abdelaziz has had two misdemeanor battery charges, stemming from incidents last year, dismissed in separate court rulings.