UFC featherweight champion Cris Cyborg earned a big win over former bantamweight champion Holly Holm at UFC 219 on Saturday night, Dec. 30. However, controversy has since risen from the event due to an incident from outside the cage.
After Cyborg’s big win over Holm, the credentialed photographer for team Greg Jackson took to social media to make a rather controversial statement. The photographer repeatedly referred to the UFC featherweight title holder as a man, stating “This dude is tough as hell! That being said at the press conference he said Holly was the first one to make his nose bleed! You are my hero [Holly Holm] see you back in the gym”
A screenshot of the original statement, as posted to Instagram, can be seen down below:
Shortly after the statement, Cris Cyborg demanded an apology and for the photographer’s credentials to be revoked.
“It is not acceptable for an official representative of @hollyholm @jacksonwink_mma to call me transgender following my Fight. Their official photographer was given a backstage credential to attend the @UFC and I expect an apology or their ability to get credentials for future UFC events to be affected by these actions. @ma2_media”
Now it would appear that the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) is taking punitive measures against Mark Aragon, the photographer responsible for the message.
The world’s most famous mixed martial arts promotion released a statement on Tuesday, Jan. 2, revealing that Aragon has had his credentials revoked and that the JacksonWink MMA social media staffer and photographer is longer allowed access to future UFC events.
“UFC is aware and troubled with the recent statements made by a social media representative from the JacksonWink MMA Academy in Albuquerque, New Mexico as it concerns women’s featherweight champion, Cris Cyborg,” the UFC stated.
“UFC does not condone or tolerate the remarks that were used. The organization has reached out to the JacksonWink team to inform them that the individual in question will not be granted access for future events.”
