NSAC seeks to fine Jon Jones, Daniel Cormier for Las Vegas brawl

After reviewing the brawl between UFC light heavyweight champ Jon Jones and Daniel Cormier, the Nevada State Athletic Commission has filed separate complaints against the fighters that will be addressed at the commission’s meeting on Sept. 23.

The complaints, obtained today by MMAjunkie, seek to fine the fighters up to $250,000 and potentially all of their contracted purses for the fight they were promoting at UFC 178 for “engaging in … an act or conduct that is detrimental to a contest of unarmed combat” and conducting themselves “in a manner reflecting discredit to unarmed combat.”

The complaint cites a statute that allows for disciplinary action to be taken in “the preparation for a contest or an exhibition of unarmed combat” or “any other action taken in conjunction with a contest or an exhibition of unarmed combat.”

Jones and Cormier were attending a news conference in support of the Sept. 27 pay-per-view when they faced off for cameras. Jones butted Cormier’s forehead with his, which prompted the former heavyweight to shove him. Jones then lunged forward and attempted to strike Cormier, touching off a melee in the middle of the MGM Grand Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas.

“The unsportsmanlike brawl between Jones and Cormier affected various people on the stage and in the hotel lobby,” the complaint states.

The incident nonetheless made headlines around the sports world and stoked fierce interest in the fight, though it was temporarily diminished when Jones suffered a knee injury and was forced to withdraw from UFC 178. The bout has been rescheduled for UFC 182 on Jan. 3 in Las Vegas.

Jones and Cormier are required to attend the Las Vegas meeting, which was first reported Wednesday on FOX Sports 1’s “UFC Tonight.” They could face further punishment as the NSAC sees fit, though the decision on whether or not to take any action rests with the commission, according to Nevada Deputy Attorney General Chris Eccles, who filed the complaint on behalf of the NSAC.

Eccles said the question of who would pay the fine in the case that the NSAC decided to garnish the fighters’ purses would be decided at the hearing.

For more on UFC 182, check out the UFC Rumors section of the site.

Also see: