Nicolas Dalby drew a comparison between Randy Brown and UFC champion Jon Jones, but it wasn’t a flattering one.
Set to face Brown at UFC on ESPN 66, Dalby took a jab at Brown for the series of accidental eye pokes he had during his recent fight against Elizeu Zaleski dos Santos.
“He’s undeniably talented,” Dalby stated during the media day for UFC on ESPN 66. “He possesses an unorthodox style due to his frame – his size and length. He’s somewhat akin to Jon Jones in the welterweight division in that aspect. While he has evident strengths, I also believe he has clear weaknesses.”
The comparison to Jones could have been related to Brown’s long physique for the weight class, but Dalby clarified that he was specifically alluding to the eye pokes that have been associated with Jones throughout his career.
“While we managed to find fighters in Copenhagen who could replicate his style, we couldn’t quite emulate the eye pokes,” Dalby remarked. “That’s the Jon Jones aspect I’m referring to. Perhaps I should have considered getting some safety goggles or something.”
Brushing off Dalby’s remarks, Brown dismissed them as an attempt to hype up the fight.
“That’s just his way of trying to stir things up beforehand,” Brown responded. “He’s 40 years old, turning 41 this year. It’s disappointing that someone at his level in the sport would think I’m intentionally trying to do that. It speaks volumes about your understanding and abilities. If that’s your mentality, you’re clueless. You sound like a spectator. This is the fight game: Accidents happen. I’m not out here trying to poke anyone in the eye.”