The Jon Jones vs. Tom Aspinall fight is still shrouded in uncertainty. Perhaps the only constant surrounding the heavyweight unification bout is the far-fetched $30 million price tag Joe Rogan had claimed the champion was asking for. Even though the rumor was dispelled almost immediately, it seems the MMA media and veteran fighters are still betting on the amount.
Former double champ Henry Cejudo is even urging the UFC heavyweight champion to stand his ground about the money. In his eyes, Jones is worth every penny of that $30 million. While the number may be arbitrary, and even imaginary, Jones‘ point of view has always been clear.
During the lead up to his first title defense at UFC 309 last year, the Rochester native had simplified it for the media who were clamoring for answers on the match-up against Aspinall. If he was going to fight the Brit, the payday needed to be worth the risk. The risk of a loss that is.
Cejudo backing the demand doesn’t necessarily come as a surprise. His friendship with the GOAT candidate has never been a secret. That said, he did present an objective point to back what he stated.
Addressing the top 3 fights Jones could possibly take on in 2025, Cejudo asserted that Aspinall would be No.1 on the list. He then cited the promotion’s big payouts to Khabib Nurmagomedov as a justifiable reason for Jones to demand big bucks for his fight.
“If the UFC was able to offer Khabib Nurmagomedov $40 million, what is the greatest of all time worth? I would say Jon stick to that number and I would not go past the dude,” said Cejudo.
After Khabib had prematurely announced his retirement in 2020, it was widely speculated that UFC boss Dana White was willing to offer him something in the ballpark of $40 million for a contract negotiation.
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Then again, the circumstances were different. Khabib had vacated his lightweight belt, and was open about never returning to the octagon. Jones, on the other hand, holds onto his belt for dear life, giving the impression that he is happy to hold up the division for a bigger bag of cash.
Meanwhile, the interim champion Aspinall has grown rather confident of the undisputed title fight taking place, especially after Alex Pereira’s loss to Magomed Ankalaev at UFC 313.
Pereira’s loss forces Jones’ hand
Since late last year, Jones has been talking about a megafight with former light heavyweight champion Pereira. The Brazilian had also spoken about it on many occasions. The bout seemed inevitable. It was just a matter of when.
However, Pereira’s timid loss and subsequent possibility of a rematch with Ankalaev for the 205 lbs title has put Jones in an awkward position. Pereira can no longer claim invincibility. Being outsmarted by Ankalaev in five rounds has also given the impression that the Poatan is not equipped to take on a well-rounded fighter.
With Jones at the pinnacle of MMA greatness, Pereira’s slide reduces the fight’s appeal. Now, the only two options for Jones are — retire, or take on Aspinall and find out if he can fend off the challenges from a new generation of heavyweight fighters.
