“I just don’t like him and at the end of the day, if I give him the opportunity to fight me, I want to be so compensated. I want to say it, I want that ‘f–k you’ money, honestly. That’s just what it is. Or else my life is perfect without him. I don’t need him at all and he needs me and that’s a good place to be in a negotiation,” Jon Jones said at the post-UFC 309 presser about fighting Tom Aspinall.
According to a rumor Joe Rogan heard, ‘Bones’ wants $30 million guaranteed to unify the heavyweight titles against the Englishman. Although the UFC commentator later walked back his comments, many feel that Jones’ demands would be in that ballpark. After all, ‘Bones’ made a reported $8 million for his last fight against Stipe Miocic and the money he is asking is likely to be at least twice that. But even that probably isn’t going to happen. After all, only Conor Mcgregor has ever made in the ballpark of Jones’ demanded figure. Even then the bulk of it came from PPV sales.
After all, $25-30 million guaranteed? That is totally unchartered waters for Dana White and Co. But since Jones’ next will be his last fight, and Aspinall is a very dangerous opponent, ‘Bones’ feels he should get a huge paycheck for the massive risk he would be taking. And UFC legend Yoel Romero agrees with the New Mexico native.
“I stay with Jon. Why? Because, thinking about it, nobody do it like him. How many titles he defend? In this time you UFC need to pay him. You need to pay what I [am] worth. What I do? I do very very very very good work for many years– for 10 years, I think, or maybe more. I did not lose it [the title] and now I want you [to] pay me a little more money. Why you [not] pay me? Why not?” ‘Soldier of God’ told Submission Radio.
Madison Square Garden NEW YORK CITY, NY -NOVEMBER 16:Jon Jones and Stipe Miocic meet in the octagon for a 3-round bout for UFC309 – Jones vs Miocic at Madison Square Garden on November 16, 2024 in New York City, NY Photo by Louis Grasse/PxImages Louis Grasse / SPP PUBLICATIONxNOTxINxBRAxMEX Copyright: xLouisxGrassex/xSPPx spp-en-LoGr-lrg2411164283824_UFCVegas309
Indeed, Jones holds the record for the most title defenses in UFC history at twelve. Not to mention he has remained essentially unbeaten throughout his nearly two-decade MMA career, which is quite an achievement. Even the very best like Georges St-Pierre and Demetrious Johnson have lost fights. That is just the nature of a sport as dynamic and multivariate as MMA. Only Khabib Nurmagomedov retired undefeated, and that was because he hung it up pretty prematurely.
And this, according to the former 185lbs title challenger, warrants ‘Bones’ being paid the big bucks. No one has been paid as much as Jones in UFC history. But then again, no one has done the things he has done in UFC history, either, as Dana White reminds us every chance he gets. And if the UFC doesn’t, Jones holds the ultimate ace up his sleeve. Just walk away from the sport. And Tom Aspinall’s recent comments do make it seem like that is a very real possibility.
Tom Aspinall seems to be over the Jon Jones fight
Tom Aspinall, on being asked when he wanted to fight Jon Jones by journalist Adam Catterall, simply said “ASAP [as soon as possible].” But that isn’t going to happen even if Jones signs the contract today. Why? Well, according to MMA journalist extraordinaire, Ariel Helwani, the GOAT contender wants six months to get ready for the Englishman. And that is if he agrees to the fight at all.
After all, as ‘Bones’ said, he doesn’t need the Tom Aspinall fight. His legacy is already secure. He could just retire and ride off into the sunset. “I will retire Jon Jones without even fighting him,” Tom Aspinall said last year. And if the UFC doesn’t pay him what he wants, there is a good chance the interim champ’s prediction will come true. And Aspinall personally is over it. To the point that the Englishman is tired of talking about the Jones fight.
“I’ve had enough talking about it. Honestly bored of it. We’ll see what happens; yeah, we will just see. I’m ready to fight whenever they tell me. So, just let me know and I will be there,” Aspinall told Morson Sport in a recent interview. What do you think about Yoel Romero’s advice for Dana White?
The post “UFC Need to Pay” – Jon Jones Gets MMA Legend’s Backing on $30M Demand for Tom Aspinall Fight appeared first on EssentiallySports.
