After Eleven Years, Jon Jones and First Round Management Part Ways

UFC 239 Jon Jones Rankings
Jon Jones Credit: Gabriel Gonzalez/Cageside Press

After eleven years with First Round Management, former UFC light heavyweight champ Jon Jones has parted ways with the company.

Jones’ relationship with FRM helped him make the deals that got him to the top of the sport, creating a dominant career in the process.

First Round Management posted a heartfelt message on their social media wishing all the best for Jon, which in turn, Bones shared to his followers on Twitter.

Malki Kawa and his team have been with the former UFC light heavyweight champion through the ups and downs of Jones’ career. Of late, however, Jones has been butting heads with the promotion in regards to his pay, and a potential heavyweight title fight with Francis Ngannou.

Among the other notable clients that First Round Management represents are Demetrious Johnson, Dominick Cruz, Tyron Woodley and many more former UFC champs. Losing Jon will no doubt be tough on an emotional level, and have impacts financially with negotiations for the potential super fight with Francis Ngannou. Still, with their resume of top talent, it doesn’t look like First Round Management will be closing up shop even with the loss of an MMA superstar like Jones.

Shortly after news broke, the rumor mill began promoting the idea that Jones might look to join forces with the star-studded championship team Ali Abdelaziz has put together. The Dominance MMA agent responded that he was “flattered” by the talk.