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Ultimate Fighting

Ugly Scenes Spark UFC 178 Excitement

The following article is from Zac Johnson.

Jon Jones puts his arms in the air after the UFC light heavy weight championship fight against Glover Texeira at Baltimore Arena. Jones retained the light heavy height championship by defeating Teixeria. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports
Jon Jones puts his arms in the air after the UFC light heavy weight championship fight against Glover Texeira at Baltimore Arena. Photo Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports

Jon Jones’ agent Malki Kawa usually has his hands full trying to explain the often controversial behaviour of the UFC’s dominant light-heavyweight champion, but Kawa was forced to come out this week to deny he had thrown punches during the ugly scenes that marred the opening of UFC 178’s promotional tour.

During the face-off, Jones and upcoming opponent Daniel Cormier seemingly couldn’t wait until September 27th to get their hands on each other, resulting in a mini-brawl in the lobby of the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. While Cormier appeared to take umbrage with Jones getting too close, the light-heavyweight champion was shown thrown at least one punch in scenes that only further hyped an event many UFC fans can’t wait for and one that has split many betting punters.

It was during the resulting scuffle in which some observers accused Jones’ agent Malki Kawa, if throwing a punch in the direction of Cormier. While there was certainly a lot of action going on, from Cormier throwing a shoe to Conor McGregor taking selfies despite the ruckus, footage cleared Kawa of any wrongdoing and Jones’ agent came out to claim he had in fact been trying to break the fight up.

With all parties quick to try and play down the incident and move on, the brawl won’t have done anything to help win over mixed martial arts critics who view the sport as barbaric. The fact is, however, that this sort of issue has become extremely rare in the UFC over the past decade. While the scenes in the lobby of the MGM Grand won’t have shocked many boxing fans, it hasn’t gone down well in the MMA community who know the sport needs to continue to improve some of its public image.

That said, there isn’t anything that could have built up the hype more for the event than what occurred and the betting odds reflected that. While Jones and Cormier were both apologetic afterwards, the duo will be well aware that the incident could well help turn UFC 178 into one of the best-selling events in the company’s history.

By Darren Heitner

Darren Adam Heitner, Esq., is a preeminent sports attorney and the founder of Heitner Legal, P.L.L.C., a Fort Lauderdale-based law firm specializing in sports law, contract negotiations, intellectual property, and arbitration. He earned his Juris Doctor from the University of Florida Levin College of Law in 2010 and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, magna cum laude, from the University of Florida in 2007, where he was named Valedictorian of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. Admitted to practice in the state bars of Florida, New York, and the District of Columbia, as well as multiple federal courts, Darren also serves as a certified arbitrator with the American Arbitration Association.

As an adjunct professor, Darren imparts his expertise through teaching Sports Law at the University of Florida Levin College of Law and Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) at the University of Miami School of Law in the Entertainment, Arts, and Sports Law LL.M. program. His scholarly contributions include authoring several books published by the American Bar Association, such as How to Play the Game: What Every Sports Attorney Needs to Know, and numerous articles in prominent publications like Forbes, Inc. Magazine, and Above the Law. His thought leadership in NIL has earned him recognition as one of the foremost experts by The Wall Street Journal, USA TODAY, and On3, and he has been lauded as a “power player in NIL deals” by Action Network and a “top sports trademark attorney” by Sportico.

Darren’s passion for sports law led him to establish Sports Agent Blog on December 31, 2005, initially titled “I Want To Be A Sports Agent.” The platform, created as a New Year’s resolution, has grown into a cornerstone of the sports agency community, offering in-depth analysis of industry trends, legal disputes, and agent-player dynamics. His commitment to the field is further evidenced by his representation of numerous athletes and sports agents, as well as his prior role as an Adjunct Professor at Indiana University Bloomington, where he developed and taught a course on Sport Agency Management from 2011 to 2014.

Darren’s contributions have been recognized with prestigious honors, including the University of Florida’s 40 Under 40 Award, the University of Florida Levin College of Law’s Outstanding Young Alumnus Award, and designation as the best lawyer in Fort Lauderdale by Fort Lauderdale Magazine. He remains an active voice in the sports law community, sharing insights through his weekly NIL newsletter and his X posts, engaging a broad audience on legal developments in sports.