Jon Jones, First Round Management Announce They Have ‘Amicably’ Parted Ways

Jon Jones is no longer under the umbrella of First Round Management, the team which has represented the former light heavyweight champion for the majority of his UFC career.

The Florida-based management group, headed by Malki Kawa and Abe Kawa, announced the news via Twitter on Monday.

“After an 11-year journey as [Jon Jones’] management team, First Round Management and Bones have amicably decided to part ways,” the statement read. “We are proud of him and the work we’ve done. We wish him the best going forward.”

After an 11 year journey as @JonnyBones management team, First Round Management and Bones have amicably decided to part ways. We are proud of him and the work we’ve done. We wish him the best going forward.

— FirstRoundMgmt (@FirstRoundMgmt) April 26, 2021

Jones later confirmed the news in a post on his Instagram account.

“It’s been an absolutely amazing journey,” Jones wrote. “Thank you so much for all the memories, and business ventures. Wishing the Kawa family and everyone over at First Round Management many blessings moving forward. Glad to be able to call you guys friends for life.”

The news comes as Jones has been involved in a public dispute with UFC president Dana White regarding negotiations for a heavyweight championship bout against Francis Ngannou. White has claimed that Jones asked for $30 million, and that the promotion is now moving forward with plans to book Ngannou against Derrick Lewis. Jones, meanwhile, has denied asking for that amount.

Regardless of how those talks play out, it appears that First Round Management was not involved in preliminary discussions with the promotion for a matchup with Ngannou. Malki Kawa denied that the separation had anything to do with that deal in a statement on social media.

“Sometimes it’s best to just walk away. Glad to have repped the [pound-for-pound] best fighter in [Jon Jones] for the last 11 years,” Kawa wrote. “No this had nothing to do with his Ngannou negotiations. Jon has been handling that negotiation on his own and has been as he wanted to speak for himself when it came to the last few fights, so no, sorry fans, you can’t blame me. We all agreed it was just best to start over. [Abe Kawa] and I are working on a lot of major things at [First Round Management] and sometimes you just have to know when to say when.”

First Round Management still boasts a notable portfolio of fighters, including Jorge Masvidal, Demetrious Johnson, Tyron Woodley, Anthony Pettis, Yoel Romero, Derrick Lewis, Dominick Cruz, Jairzinho Rozenstruik and Yair Rodriguez, to name a few.

Jones, meanwhile, still hasn’t competed since defending his the 205-pound belt for a final time with a five-round verdict over Dominick Reyes at UFC 247 in February 2020.

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