UFC bars Jackson-Wink media guy
His social media post referred to champ Cyborg as a ‘he’
Mark Aragon, a photographer and media coordinator for Albuquerque’s Jackson-Wink MMA Academy, will not be granted a media credential for future UFC events.
The UFC made the announcement Wednesday in response to a post by Aragon in which he referred to fighter Cristiane Justino as “he” and with use of the pronoun “his” after Justino’s victory over Albuquerque’s and Jackson-Wink’s Holly Holm Saturday night on UFC 219 in Las Vegas, Nev.
Justino, better known by her nickname, “Cyborg,” had demanded an apology and/or that the UFC not issue Aragon a media credential in the future. Aragon apologized in an Instagram post on Monday, but said his post was in response to disparaging and disrespectful remarks from Cyborg about Holm that he said he had overheard after the fight.
Jackson-Wink issued a news release apologizing for Aragon’s post on social media but also saying it came in response to Cyborg’s alleged disrespectful remarks about Holm.
“In response to our media person’s recent Instagram remark about Cyborg, there is a back-
story as to why he made his comment,” stated a post on the gym’s official Facebook page that was made on Monday. “After Cyborg’s victory, she was heard backstage by our media guy calling Holly a ‘Bi#%h’ and laughing at a photo depicting her own toe in Holly’s eye. They were heard mocking Holly’s performance. Our media guy was defensive of our fighter and space and he used Cyborg’s past history of steroid use, in a knee jerk, response. We were unaware of all the backstage talk and his response on a public forum until yesterday. He regrets putting JW in this position. We don’t condone putting others down. Congratulations to Cyborg and her team and we look forward to a rematch.”
Cyborg accepted the apology but continued to insist that Aragon not be granted a UFC media credential in the future. Wednesday, the UFC complied.
“UFC is aware and troubled with the recent statements made by a social media representative from the Jackson Wink MMA Academy in New Mexico,” the organization said in a statement. “UFC does not condone or tolerate the remarks that were used. The organization has reached out to the Jackson Wink team to inform them that the individual in question will not be granted access for future events.”
On Twitter, Cyborg expressed her appreciation.
“I want to thank the UFC for showing their support,” she wrote. “Everyone is entitled to a work environment free from sexual harassment and prejudice.”
Aragon did not respond to a text from the Journal seeking comment and has not commented further on social media about UFC’s actions Wednesday.
On Tuesday, he expressed confusion as to why, having accepted his apology, Cyborg was still demanding that the UFC not issue him credentials in the future.