Photographer apologizes after Cyborg condemns his insensitive comments
As if her battles in the cage aren't enough, Cris Cyborg is facing another one outside of it.
Shortly after defending her featherweight crown against Holly Holm at UFC 219 on Saturday, Cyborg once again became the subject of insensitive comments made by Mark A. Aragon, a photographer affiliated with JacksonWink - Holm's longtime gym - on Instagram. Needless to say, the 32-year-old was none too pleased with being referred to as a "dude" or a man in the since-deleted post, and took to Instagram herself in condemnation of the slight on Monday:
Cyborg asked for either an apology or the photographer's media credentials to be revoked, as he'd obtained a press pass to cover UFC 219.
The camp soon released a statement addressing the fiasco, though it likely wasn't what Cyborg expected. While they didn't condone Aragon's actions, JacksonWink deemed the comments a product of impulse and Cyborg's alleged gloating immediately following her win over Holm. They capped the statement with a call for a rematch:
In response to our media person's recent Instagram remark about Cyborg, there is a backstory as to why he made his comment. 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.
Aragon has since given his detailed explanation of what led him to post the incendiary comments and apologized to Cyborg in a lengthy Instagram post:
Unfortunately, the Brazilian has fielded such comments before, most notably from UFC president Dana White and longtime commentator Joe Rogan, with the former once likening her to "Wanderlei Silva in a dress."