Cris ‘Cyborg’ Responds to Insensitive Social Media Post by Jackson-Wink Photographer

Once again, Cristiane Justino is the target of insults questioning her gender.

Following Justino’s victory over Holly Holm in the UFC 219 headliner, Jackson-Wink MMA photographer Mark Aragon posted comments on his Instagram account referring to “Cyborg” as a “dude” and using male pronouns to describe the women’s featherweight champion.

“This dude is tough as hell! That being said at the press conference he said Holly was the first one to make his nose bleed,” Aragon wrote in a post that has since been deleted.

In the past, UFC President Dana White and UFC analyst Joe Rogan have mocked Justino’s gender. White said “Cyborg” looked like ”Wanderlei Silva in a dress” before the fighter joined the UFC, while Rogan joked that Justino had male genitals on his podcast.

Justino responded to Aragon’s comments on Monday, asking for an apology from the Albuquerque, N.M.-based gym.

“It is not acceptable for an official representative of @hollyholm @jacksonwink_mma to call me transgender following my fight,” Justino wrote. “Their official photographer was given a backstage credential to attend the @UFC and I expect an apology or their ability to get credentials for future UFC events to be affected by these actions.”

It is not acceptable for an official representative of @hollyholm @jacksonwink_mma to call me transgender following my Fight. Their official photographer was given a backstage credential to attend the @UFC and I expect an apology or their ability to get credentials for future UFC events to be affected by these actions. @ma2_media Não é aceitável que um representante oficial da @hollyholm @jacksonwink_mma me ligue transgênero na sequência da minha luta. Seu fotógrafo oficial recebeu uma credencial de bastidores para participar do @UFC e espero que uma desculpa ou sua capacidade de obter credenciais para futuros eventos do @ufc_brasil sejam afetadas por essas ações.

A post shared by CRIS CYBORG #ufc219 (@criscyborg) on Jan 1, 2018 at 9:07am PST

Aragon did later apologize for his post, claiming that he overheard “Cyborg” laughing about a picture in which the champion’s toes were in Holm’s eye from delivering a kick as they shared a bus leaving the arena to the fighter hotel. Aragon also said that the Brazilian referred to Holm as “the bitch” and remarked that the Jackson-Wink member “stayed and hugged her but she did nothing” in clinches throughout the fight.

“When I got back to the hotel I posted a picture with an inappropriate caption that everyone is now talking about,” Aragon wrote. “I was obviously acting out of anger and frustration. My personal emotions got in the way of my professional status which I failed to adhere to.”

Additionally, Aragon admitted to being upset by Justino’s social media posts claiming that Jackson-Wink MMA had a history of anti-doping violations.

“But there is more to it, Cyborg leading up to the fight through her own social media accounts accused Holly and our camp of being the most drug failed camp ever,” Aragon wrote. “This is a totally fabricated lie and can’t be based on any merit whatsoever. Only one CURRENT athlete from our camp has ever been punished for USADA related issues and I was extremely frustrated with the perception that Cyborg and her fans had painted us as cheaters and losers.

“…That being said I am embarrassed by my actions and I sincerely apologize to @criscyborg and her friends, fans, and most importantly her family for posting such an ugly misrepresentation of a great hard earned championship retention. I also want to apologize to the members of team [Jackson-Wink] who were [affected] by that insincere post.”

As the most hated photographer in the world today, I feel its necessary to comment on the recent fall out I’m causing for both Hollys and Cyborgs camps, and their respectful friends, fans, and families. At the conclusion of UFC 219, I took the final bus out of the arena back to the hotel and ended up on the same bus as Chris Cyborg and her team. As I sat in the back I began to hear them cheer and revel in their victory and discuss small parts of the event. A couple things really bothered me. I heard them laughing and commenting on a picture that renowned photographer Esther Lin took of Cyborgs toes literally in Hollys eye from a kick. Cyborg then went on to discuss how during clinches “the bitch” just “stayed and hugged her but she did nothing”. When I got back to the hotel I posted a picture with an inappropriate caption that everyone is now talking about. I was obviously acting out of anger and frustration. My personal emotions got in the way of my professional status which I failed to adhere to. But there is more to it, Cyborg leading up to the fight through her own Social Media accounts accused Holly and our camp of being the most drug failed camp ever. This is a totally fabricated lie and can’t be based on any merit whatsoever. Only one CURRENT athlete from our camp has ever been punished for USADA related issues and I was extremely frustrated with the perception that Cyborg and her fans had painted us as cheaters and losers.  Jackson Wink had over 60 UFC fights throughout the world and hundreds of other fighters fighting all around the world at many different organizations. Every fighter has their home team based out of whatever country or state they hail from and come here for training, some of them with their own teams. We absolutely can’t be responsible for each and every one of their daily activities. That being said I am embarrassed by my actions and I sincerely apologize to @criscyborg riscyborg and her friends, fans, and most importantly her family for posting such an ugly misrepresentation of a great hard earned championship retention. I also want to apologize to the members of team Jacksonwink who were effected by that insincere post.

A post shared by Mark A. Aragon (@ma2_media) on Jan 1, 2018 at 12:37pm PST

Jackson-Wink MMA also issued an apology via its official Facebook page.