The bad blood is once again brewing between Jon Jones and Alexander Gustafsson.
Jones and Gustafsson, who fight each other for the UFC light heavyweight title next month, got physical at the UFC 232 press conference on Friday evening in New York City.
After facing off, Jones and Gustafsson turned to face the media for a photo op. A moment later, Jones stepped in front of Gustafsson, trying to block him out of view. Gustafsson then stepped in front of Jones, and Jones pushed “The Mauler” out of the way. UFC president Dana White had already stepped off to the side, seemingly not expecting things between the two fighters to get out of hand. He ran back to the middle of the stage to separate them before Gustafsson could react.
Watch the first Jones vs. Gustafsson 2 staredown courtesy of Submission Radio above.
Jones and Gustafsson will rematch at UFC 232, which takes place Dec. 29 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. They first fought in September 2013; Jones, then the light heavyweight champion, successfully defended his title by narrow decision. A rematch was scheduled in 2014, but Gustafsson fell out of the fight due to an injury.
Daniel Cormier is currently the 205-pound titleholder, but is expected to get stripped of the belt as soon as Jones vs. Gustafsson starts. Cormier is also the heavyweight champ and defends that title on Saturday at UFC 230 against Derrick Lewis. Cormier has said he’ll have the opportunity to keep the light heavyweight title if he loses to Lewis as a massive betting favorite, but Jones said at the press conference that he won’t grant “DC” a third fight if he wins the title next month.
The UFC 232 press conference also featured UFC champs Cris Cyborg and Amanda Nunes, who compete in a superfight in the card’s co-main event.