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Jon Jones has established himself as a trailblazer in the MMA world and is widely regarded as one of the toughest UFC fighters in history. Over his prolonged professional career, "Bones" has achieved remarkable milestones, including being one of the few athletes to hold world titles in two weight categories: light heavyweight and heavyweight. Since transitioning to the latter division, the 37-year-old has been consistently linked to potential matchups with top-tier heavyweights. Following his resounding victory over defending champion Ciryl Gane in 2023 and his subsequent win against Stipe Miocic, Jones has remained the center of attention in the UFC's heavyweight division.
Now, the reigning heavyweight champion is poised to face England's interim heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall. The brewing rivalry between Jones and Aspinall has only intensified, with the two exchanging verbal jabs whenever questioned about each other. While their highly anticipated fight is yet to be scheduled, one of Jones' former opponents recently made a thought-provoking claim about the potential clash. This revelation has sparked widespread speculation, offering insights into Jones' financial demands and their implications on the heavyweight bout fans eagerly await.
Cormier's Perspective on Jones' Financial Demands
As the MMA community speculates about the impending fight between Jon Jones and Tom Aspinall, former UFC champion and renowned analyst Daniel Cormier shared his thoughts on the matter. According to UFC commentator Joe Rogan, Jones is reportedly asking for a staggering $30 million to face Aspinall. Cormier, reflecting on this hefty demand, believes that while it is unlikely Jones will secure the full amount, the request itself isn't as unreasonable as it might seem.
"Now when you start looking at it like that, you start going, I don’t know if his ask is as crazy as people are saying,” Cormier stated on his YouTube channel. “You can do 16 mil at the gate, you can do whatever you do on pay-per-view, you’ve got sponsorships for the fight night, those aren’t yours, you are bringing them on, but there are sponsors on fight night, now that ask is not so crazy."
Cormier added that even if Jones doesn’t receive $30 million, negotiating such a figure could result in a lucrative payday. "Rogan thinks the UFC will pay the $30 million to get Jon Jones in there with Tom Aspinall. I’m not sure he gets to 30, but if you ask for 30 and you get 20 or you get 15, that’s a win for Jon Jones on his way out. Especially living in Albuquerque, where everything is so dang cheap, he’s not living in California."
Comparing the pay scales of today to his own time as a dual champion, Cormier said, "I’ll tell you guys, as a person who has been involved in big fights, a person who has sold pay-per-views, a person who at his time was at the top of the pay scale in the UFC as the heavyweight and light heavyweight champion, $30 million was literally a world away from anything we were making."
Cormier's remarks offer a glimpse into how far the UFC has come in compensating its fighters and highlight the financial stakes tied to a marquee fight like Jones vs. Aspinall. While fans eagerly await confirmation of the bout, the debate over Jones' payout continues to dominate headlines, ensuring that this showdown will be one for the history books.
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