JON JONES has been labelled the “dirtiest fighter in history” after of his UFC return.
The former pound-for-pound king has inked a new eight-fight deal with mixed martial arts' premier promotion – which will kick off with a heavyweight title fight with Ciryl Gane in March.
Jones' new deal came after nearly two-and-a-half years of fierce negotiations and a public pay spat with the UFC brass – who were initially reluctant to meet his demands.
And he's allegedly overtaken former middleweight champion Israel Adesanya as the American fight promotion's second-biggest earner.
However, one of the 35-year-old’s former opponents has called out the star over his use of “eye gouges”.
Quinton ‘Rampage’ Jackson went toe-to-toe back in 2011 at UFC 135 as he challenged “Bones” for the UFC light-heavyweight title, with Jones claiming victory in the fourth via submission.
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Jackson lost his next two bouts in the octagon before leaving UFC in 2013 to join Bellator, where he went 6-3 before retiring.
Speaking to Chris Van Vliet about his former rival, he said: “Jon Jones is a great fighter. Even if he was standing in this room I would say it. But he’s the dirtiest fighter ever.
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“The guy is so smart. He does the most dirtiest things.
“If you’re doing anything good on him, he’s going to poke you in the eye.
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“If you’re advancing or doing anything good or you get the advantage, he’s going to kick your knee backwards.
“For one, I think that knee kick – they call it like an oblique kick – he’s kicking you right on your kneecap.
“I think that should be banned. … My knee is still messed up from that fight because it hyperextended – he kicked it all the way back. You can end people’s careers with those moves.
“Jon Jones, he’s good. He doesn’t even have to do that. Think about all of those spinning elbows he used to do in the beginning. Where did they land? Do you remember? In the back of people’s heads. It’s illegal. Jon Jones is like the dirtiest fighter.”
However, he added: “I’m cool with Jon Jones.
“When I see Jon Jones, we’re cool. … I always had honour when I fought.
“I wanted to be the best fighter on the day. I wanted to win the fight clean. But I know that every fighter is not like me.”
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