Jon Jones has set his terms for a showdown with Tom Aspinall. The champ, who ran through Stipe Miocic to retain his UFC heavyweight crown, could be warming up to the idea of fighting the Brit. However, he will need to see a massive pay-check to make it worth his while.
In a live stream with Adin Ross prior to UFC 309, Jones said:
“The only way that we do it is if Dana [White] and Hunter [Campbell] give me a check that really changes my mind… I want it to be really worth my while. But right now it really really doesn’t feel worth my while.”
Jones also addressed the “ducking” troll by fans, saying that none of it helps the cause. He added that the trash-talking will make him more inclined to not accept the fight.
Though he still acting pricey, it is heartening to see Bones at least consider the title unification fight. Although he is still making it sound like there’s a lot of choice for him out there.
UFC President White had earlier given him an ultimatum and said that if he were to fight under the UFC banner, he would have to fight Aspinall next.
If he wins against Aspinall, White would allow him to take on Alex Pereira.
Right now, Jones can bask in the glory of his UFC 309 victory over Miocic. White believes that his claims about Jones being the Pound-for-Pound #1 will finally reflect in the official rankings.
Jones as #1 P4P is ‘undeniable’
White has expressed on multiple occasions that he believes Jones should be the #1 ranked P4P fighter in the UFC as long as he is active. That’s not how it works though, And since Jones had only fought once in four years, he did not have a chance to be on top.
But ahead of UFC 309, White had argued his point once again and asserted that if ‘Bones’ could secure a victory over Miocic, it would change everybody’s mind about him.
“Not if he wins, this dude has never lost a fight in 16 years, in Mixed Martial Arts, what else is there to say?…..He’s the pound for pound best fighter in the world, it’s undeniable, it’s ridiculous.”
That victory has come now. Let’s see the change it brings about in the rankings.
Jones missed an opportunity to solidify his place at the top of the P4P rankings back in the day when he took three years to gain weight and make a move to the heavyweight division. At the time, Francis Ngannou was the heavyweight champion. Jones returned a few weeks after Ngannou departed from the company.
Funnily enough, White had claimed once that Jones was the reason the then-heavyweight champion left the UFC. He said The Predator was not ready to fight Jones for the belt.
Ngannou, on his part, had painted a very different picture of his departure from the organization. He claimed the UFC was not paying him enough for the kind of business he was generating.
There are also reports that Ngannou had wanted a guaranteed purse for his opponents as well, something that the UFC was not willing to grant. The PFL did, and the former champ left.
