Joey Barton claims it was former Manchester City team-mate Ousmane Dabo that sparked their now infamous training ground bust-up.
The 28-year-old midfielder was given a four-month suspended jail sentence for assault and was ordered to fulfil 200 hours of community service after the incident, which left Dabo in hospital.
But Barton, who was also hit with a six-match ban by the Football Association, claims it was the Frenchman that started the fight.
The Newcastle United man told French football publication So Foot: “I have never given my side of the story, but the truth is that he started the fight and I finished it.
“Frankly, Ousmane is a little pussy. It's him who hit me from behind with his hand.
“When he did that, I hit him back. It happened just like that, bang, bang bang and it was over.
“But I am no monster. I don't like fighting, but it's human to defend yourself.”
He continued: “I wanted to discuss it like men, but he never came to see me and that makes me angry because he told lies in the papers and I was not able to respond.
“There was a late tackle in training and we exchanged a few words. I have an aggressive style and he wasn't happy.
“I told him, 'You are a piece of s**t, don't come looking for me'. He said, 'You are arrogant, you think you're something special'.
“We kept talking and I said, 'Yeah, you're great', but it was sarcastic because he was not playing well, so he slapped me from behind.
“He tried to be the bad boy, but it was him who ended up on the floor.”
However, Dabo has denied Barton’s claims, saying: “I had my back turned when he charged at me and threw a right into my temple, like a coward.
“I was knocked out but, while I was out of it, he grabbed my head and struck me with 10 right-handers from close range.
“In a man's fight it's impossible that this guy - who is half my size - sparks me out with one punch. It was anything but fair.”