Unlike UFC President Dana White, heavyweight Alistair Overeem sees no reason why he shouldn’t train with 205-pound champion Jon Jones.

Overeem and Jones are teammates at New Mexico fight camp Jackson-Winkeljohn MMA. However, this past month, a training accident injured “Bones” and forced him out of a planned UFC 178 title defense against Daniel Cormier.

The fight was pushed to UFC 182 in January and questions arose about how Jones got hurt ahead of arguably the most significant match up of his professional career.

Head coach Greg Jackson said in an interview with Sherdog that it was in a training session with Overeem, who joined the team a few months ago, when Jones went down with the leg injury, which ultimately required surgery.

“Somebody went for a takedown, (Jones) stepped the wrong way, twisted the wrong way and down he went,” Jackson said. “He was fighting it, and he just twisted it. And then it just popped.”

Overeem’s involvement in the situation sparked ire from the UFC boss. White believes it “doesn’t make sense” for someone the size of “The ‘Reem” to train with Jones, especially when Jones is preparing for a matchup like Cormier, whose physical dimensions greatly differ from Overeem.

“It drives me crazy,” White said on The Jim Rome Show. “First of all he’s fighting a 5-(foot)-10 unbelievable wrestler – that’s who he is facing in Daniel Cormier. (But) he’s training with 6-10, no-wrestling, all-standup kickboxer Alistair Overeem. And Alistair Overeem lands on his leg and busts his knee up and gives him a high ankle sprain.

“I mean I just don’t know why he would be training with Alistair Overeem for a fight when he’s going to fight a 5-10 wrestler. I don’t know, it’s frustrating.

“I wanted to pick the phone up about 20 times and call (Greg Jackson) and say ‘What are you doing? Why’s he training with Alistair Overeem to fight Daniel Cormier? Please tell me how that makes sense. But I didn’t. I bit my tongue, until right this second.”

Overeem described the “freak” accident as part of the sport. Fighters get injured and are forced to withdraw from upcoming contests on what seems like a daily basis, it just so happened this specific incident caused one of the most anticipated bouts of the year to be postponed.

“(The injury was) very unfortunate,” Overeem told MMAjunkie. “This was just one of those freak accidents on a takedown. Listen, I was looking forward to that fight. Everybody was looking forward to that fight. Jon Jones was looking forward to it. Accidents happen. There’s no fault to blame.

“What is he doing training with me? We’re in the same gym. We’re teammates. We have lunch (together) and we drive around together.”

Ever since the news surfaced, Overeem has received an endless onslaught of criticism from media and fellow fighters. The former Strikeforce heavyweight champion was the butt of harsh words from former Blackzilians teammate Anthony Johnson and current Jackson-Winkeljohn MMA training partner Andrei Arlovski.

Both fighters echoed similar sentiments about Overeem and how he might not be the most considerate training partner. Johnson in particular insinuated Overeem intentionally inflicts injury upon those around him.

The Dutchman sternly declines those claims. He believes there is no reason why he shouldn’t be able to train with Jones – or anyone else for that matter – and insists he would never overstep his bounds in such a fashion.

“There was no intent (to hurt him),” Overeem said. “There’s always something you can say. Sometimes it’s best to say nothing and it is what it is. That’s just my two cents.”

Regardless of any statements to the contrary, Overeem has settled in to life at Jackson-Winkeljohn’s MMA. After spending his past two camps in Miami and Thailand, Overeem joined the world-renowned team earlier this year and spent his entire training camp for Friday’s UFC Fight Night 50 showdown with Ben Rothwell in Albuquerque.

Overeem (37-13 MMA, 2-2 UFC) meets Rothwell (33-9 MMA, 3-3 UFC) in the co-main event of the FOX Sports 1-televised fight card from Foxwoods Casino Resort in Ledyard, Conn. The main card (9 p.m. ET) airs following prelims on the same channel (7 p.m. ET).

The 34-year-old has high praise for his new surroundings. Despite any negative news that has been attached to his name, Overeem remains focused on Rothwell and expects his newfound training methods to shine through in the octagon.

“I’m having a great time learning every day,” Overeem said. “The team is great. They’re stand-up people, there’s no egos. Everybody’s cool. Everyone is helping each other out. A lightweight can give me wresting advice. It’s very chill and peaceful and that’s that I like. I don’t like tension in the gym slash workplace.

“I want to go to work with pleasure and it helps when you’re around motivated people that have got your back. I’m very much looking forward to this fight.”

For more on UFC Fight Night 50, check out the UFC Rumors section of the site.