UFC fighter Jon Jones yesterday indicated that the "infamous brawl with Daniel Cormier" during a press event in August cost him a "Nike sponsorship worth 'over six figures,'" according to Morgan & Stupp of MMA JUNKIE. Jones appeared before the Nevada State Athletic Commission and "mentioned the lost sponsorship when commissioners first asked him what he felt was an appropriate punishment." Jones said that he was "already feeling ramifications due to the loss of a deal." Ofir Ventura, Jones' attorney, said that the brawl "also cost Jones another potential six-figure sponsorship." Morgan & Stupp reported Ventura did not name the company or "how close the deal was to being finalized." When the Jones-Nike deal was announced in '12, it "marked a significant moment for MMA, which rarely saw its top athletes signed to such blue-chip sponsorships." Nike released "clothing and footing bearing Jones' name" as part of the deal, while Jones was "often seen donning Nike-branded clothing during media events and on fight nights" (MMAJUNKIE.com, 9/23). ESPN.com's Brett Okamoto noted Jones was fined $50,000 and "ordered to complete 40 hours of community service" for his role in the brawl, while Cormier "was fined $9,000 and ordered to complete 20 hours of community service." Jones said, "I made us all look bad as a champion. It was a terrible thing in a very heated moment. I've never done anything to discourage the sport. ... It's embarrassing to me" (ESPN.com, 9/23).
