Jon Jones

While nearly everyone seemed to enjoy the UFC’s hype package for UFC 182, one person who wasn’t impressed with the promo material is light heavyweight champion Jon Jones.

Jones (20-1 MMA, 14-1 UFC) puts his belt on the line for the eighth time in a grudge match against Daniel Cormier (15-0 MMA, 4-0 UFC) at the Jan. 3 fight card, which takes place at Las Vegas’ MGM Grand Garden Arena. The event airs on pay-per-view following prelims on FOX Sports 1 and UFC Fight Pass.

The 154-second-long video first hit airways during the UFC 181 pay-per-view broadcast earlier this month. Clips from Jones’ infamous September brawl with Cormier are played along with highlights from a “hot mic” discussion with both fighters.

Cormier called Jones the “scum of the earth,” while the champion responds by announcing he could “absolutely kill” his upcoming opponent. Although the conversation had been much publicized prior to the promo video, Jones admits he was surprised the material was used to hype the fight.

“When I first saw it I was a little offended by it,” Jones said on FOX Sports 1’s “UFC Tonight.” “That the UFC, someone who’s supposed to be backing my brand and making me look good, would put up something like that for the general public to see. I don’t think it’s really healthy for the world to see their champion – for the world to see the UFC’s champion – saying I would kill someone, so that really took me off guard.”

Jones has had run-ins with UFC brass in the past, most notably the heated criticism he received from UFC President Dana White following the canceled UFC 151 event in September 2012.

“Bones” was scheduled to face Dan Henderson in the main event, but Henderson was forced out of the bout with injury less than two weeks out from the fight. Chael Sonnen offered to step in as a replacement, but Jones declined the fight. The company was left without a pay-per-view worthy headliner, and as a result, a numbered UFC card was scrapped from the calendar for the first time.

While Jones clearly wishes the promotion for the fight had been taken in a different direction, he said he accepts the UFC’s decision.

“I didn’t really think it was in my best interest,” Jones said. “But it was for the UFC’s best interest, so I kind of had to swallow my pride. I said it.”

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