JacksonWink Photographer’s UFC Credentials Officially Removed

There hasn’t been a more hated man in MMA than Mark Aragon since UFC 219 came to a close… Aragon is the photographer for the JacksonWink MMA gym and after the UFC 219 main event that saw their fighter, Holly Holm lose to the champion, Cris Cyborg, he posted a rather offensive post on Instagram that upset Cyborg as well as many others on both sides of the subject and fans alike.

But today the UFC released a statement that Aragon would no longer be allowed into UFC events(according to MMAFighting).

“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. 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.”

After all the backlash prior to the UFC’s statement, Aragon did, in fact, respond with a lengthy message on his Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bda6c4Un_Ht/?taken-by=ma2_media

As the most hated photographer in the world today, I feel its necessary to comment on the recent fall out I’m causing for both Hollys and Cyborgs camps, and their respectful friends, fans, and families. At the conclusion of UFC 219, I took the final bus out of the arena back to the hotel and ended up on the same bus as Chris Cyborg and her team. As I sat in the back I began to hear them cheer and revel in their victory and discuss small parts of the event. A couple things really bothered me. I heard them laughing and commenting on a picture that renowned photographer Esther Lin took of Cyborgs toes literally in Hollys eye from a kick. Cyborg then went on to discuss how during clinches “the bitch” just “stayed and hugged her but she did nothing”. When I got back to the hotel I posted a picture with an inappropriate caption that everyone is now talking about. I was obviously acting out of anger and frustration. My personal emotions got in the way of my professional status which I failed to adhere to. But there is more to it, Cyborg leading up to the fight through her own Social Media accounts accused Holly and our camp of being the most drug failed camp ever. This is a totally fabricated lie and can’t be based on any merit whatsoever. Only one CURRENT athlete from our camp has ever been punished for USADA related issues and I was extremely frustrated with the perception that Cyborg and her fans had painted us as cheaters and losers. Jackson Wink had over 60 UFC fights throughout the world and hundreds of other fighters fighting all around the world at many different organizations. Every fighter has their home team based out of whatever country or state they hail from and come here for training, some of them with their own teams. We absolutely can’t be responsible for each and every one of their daily activities. That being said I am embarrassed by my actions and I sincerely apologize to @criscyborg riscyborg and her friends, fans, and most importantly her family for posting such an ugly misrepresentation of a great hard earned championship retention. I also want to apologize to the members of team Jacksonwink who were effected by that insincere post.

If Aragon will have anything more to say now is to be determined but regardless, he didn’t make the wisest decision when posting on Saturday night.

This article first appeared on BJPenn.com on 1/2/2018.