I’ll never say never’… UFC champion Tom Aspinall discusses jump from MMA to boxing as Saudi ‘money fights’ loom large

[Carrotman23]

Dont know if this is really thread worthy but I thought its another example of why fighter pay is still a detriment to the sport. I mean Aspinall basically outright says he knows he wouldnt be a top level boxer but would do it for a big payday.
He does confirm that he still has plenty to give to MMA and the UFC but its disappointing hearing stuff like this, the guys still early in his career, if he's gonna be the great we all want him to be he needs to keep his mind on MMA.

Then again if there was something like Zuffa boxing these guys could go in and get KO'ed in boxing for a paycheck and the UFC would get a cut. I still think its a good idea!

Speaking to the legendary British boxer Carl Froch, via the Froch on Fighting YouTube channel, UFC interim heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall discussed the recent trend of MMA fighters trying their hand at boxing.

Whilst Aspinall did note that he still has ‘plenty of work’ left to do with the UFC, including a potential heavyweight unification clash with Jon Jones, the English juggernaut was surprisingly open to the idea of rounding out his fighting career by stepping into the boxing ring.

“I’m definitely going to stick with MMA for the time being, I’ve got a lot more to do in the UFC at the minute but with what them Saudis are paying – if we’re talking $15 million, I mean you can never say never.”

Aspinall reiterated that such a lucrative move would only be seriously considered at the very end of his journey, and with the 15-3 heavyweight having only just celebrated his 31st birthday, that could still be a few years away.

“At the back end of my career, I might look into that thing but right now, I’ve got a lot more work to do with the UFC – but I’ll never say never to it… I’d take a couple of money fights but to be a world champion [in boxing], it’s a lifetime, a full body of work to be a world champion.

“I might not be a world champion mate, but I’ll pop over for a few quid.”

‘I’ll never say never’… UFC champion Tom Aspinall discusses jump from MMA to boxing as Saudi ‘money fights’ loom large

How do you think Tom Aspinall would do if he made the jump to heavyweight boxing?

bloodyelbow.com

 

[Only Here for Attachments]

That didn't take long

 

[Carrotman23]

That didn't take long

Right?
MMA is getting a little embarrassing at this point haha. Every time a guy gets big he asks for a big boxing match especially with that sweet sweet Gulf money.

The UFC needs to make and build proper super fights and grow their stars more. I honestly don't see why a huge Saudi fight in MMA if done properly with the right deals couldn't give Aspinall a good payday.
MMA can be big enough, RIZIN filled a 40,000 person stadium in Japan not too long ago.

But I guess that's a little too creative and risky for U Fight Cheap.

 

[Human Bass]

Right?
MMA is getting a little embarrassing at this point haha. Every time a guy gets big he asks for a big boxing match especially with that sweet sweet Gulf money.

The UFC needs to make and build proper super fights and grow their stars more. I honestly don't see why a huge Saudi fight in MMA if done properly with the right deals couldn't give Aspinall a good payday.
MMA can be big enough, RIZIN filled a 40,000 person stadium in Japan not too long ago.

But I guess that's a little too creative and risky for U Fight Cheap.

UFC cares about being profitable. Those saudi events are all running at a loss. The idea is to promote the country and blablabla

 

[Jon!]

Dont know if this is really thread worthy but I thought its another example of why fighter pay is still a detriment to the sport. I mean Aspinall basically outright says he knows he wouldnt be a top level boxer but would do it for a big payday.
He does confirm that he still has plenty to give to MMA and the UFC but its disappointing hearing stuff like this, the guys still early in his career, if he's gonna be the great we all want him to be he needs to keep his mind on MMA.

Then again if there was something like Zuffa boxing these guys could go in and get KO'ed in boxing for a paycheck and the UFC would get a cut. I still think its a good idea!

Speaking to the legendary British boxer Carl Froch, via the Froch on Fighting YouTube channel, UFC interim heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall discussed the recent trend of MMA fighters trying their hand at boxing.

Whilst Aspinall did note that he still has ‘plenty of work’ left to do with the UFC, including a potential heavyweight unification clash with Jon Jones, the English juggernaut was surprisingly open to the idea of rounding out his fighting career by stepping into the boxing ring.

“I’m definitely going to stick with MMA for the time being, I’ve got a lot more to do in the UFC at the minute but with what them Saudis are paying – if we’re talking $15 million, I mean you can never say never.”

Aspinall reiterated that such a lucrative move would only be seriously considered at the very end of his journey, and with the 15-3 heavyweight having only just celebrated his 31st birthday, that could still be a few years away.

“At the back end of my career, I might look into that thing but right now, I’ve got a lot more work to do with the UFC – but I’ll never say never to it… I’d take a couple of money fights but to be a world champion [in boxing], it’s a lifetime, a full body of work to be a world champion.

“I might not be a world champion mate, but I’ll pop over for a few quid.”

‘I’ll never say never’… UFC champion Tom Aspinall discusses jump from MMA to boxing as Saudi ‘money fights’ loom large

How do you think Tom Aspinall would do if he made the jump to heavyweight boxing?

bloodyelbow.com

And this is why there might never be another Fedor.

The UFC just won't pay the money needed.

Just like they wouldn't pay the money for Fedor.

 

[Jon!]

UFC cares about being profitable. Those saudi events are all running at a loss. The idea is to promote the country and blablabla

This is very true, but Saudi are also doing this with football/soccer. They're offering players insane wages and can meet any transfer fee clubs demand. They want all the big names.

Does that mean all the best players are in Saudi Arabia, or headed there?

HELL NO.

Because the European big clubs can compete financially with the insane overspend of the Saudis.

And what's more, they have prestige, players want to win trophies in Europe, not take a kindergarten play break in a crappy league nobody cares about.

The UFC have to become this. They have to at least offer life changing money to their elite superstars, and they need to make sure fighters see the UFC as the most prestigious brand in combat sports.

Money is an excuse.

 

[Carrotman23]

And this is why there might never be another Fedor.

The UFC just won't pay the money needed.

Just like they wouldn't pay the money for Fedor.

For real I was thinking about this too. If we wanna see fighters that again look larger then life they have to get the treatment that other premium athletes get.
I'm not saying some athletes don't get paid too much (they often do) but if MMA pay is relatively shit then why wouldn't you go do other sports? There's too little incentive.

UFC cares about being profitable. Those saudi events are all running at a loss. The idea is to promote the country and blablabla

That doesn't make any sense, if the Saudis paid for it why would they care about whether its profitable for the House Of Saud or not, it would make the UFC and the fighters a lot of money.

Also I think you are probably correct, but It doesn't matter for the Saudis whether these events make money or not right now, and yeah I'm fully aware they are in part doing this for soft power/propaganda purposes .

 

[TeenageMutantLesnarTurtle]

And this is why there might never be another Fedor.

The UFC just won't pay the money needed.

Just like they wouldn't pay the money for Fedor.

Fedor was making peanuts compared to what top MMA guys get now though.....

 

[Jon!]

Fedor was making peanuts compared to what top MMA guys get now though.....

Which was fine when boxing wasn't trying to pry him away.

Times change, so the approach has to change.

Good point overall though: The UFC is stuck in the 00's.

 

[Carrotman23]

Fedor was making peanuts compared to what top MMA guys get now though.....

True, but MMA was making less back then and wasn't nearly as big in the US when Fedor was in his prime.

And remember the issue of fighter pay is always about proportion of revenue.

 

[Human Bass]

For real I was thinking about this too. If we wanna see fighters that again look larger then life they have to get the treatment that other premium athletes get.
I'm not saying some athletes don't get paid too much (they often do) but if MMA pay is relatively shit then why wouldn't you go do other sports? There's too little incentive.


That doesn't make any sense, if the Saudis paid for it why would they care about whether its profitable for the House Of Saud or not, it would make the UFC and the fighters a lot of money.

Also I think you are probably correct, but It doesn't matter for the Saudis whether these events make money or not right now, and yeah I'm fully aware they are in part doing this for soft power/propaganda purposes .

Once they big projects (The Line for example) fail and they have trillion on losses, it will matter.

 

[Sms_productions713]

And this is why there might never be another Fedor.

The UFC just won't pay the money needed.

Just like they wouldn't pay the money for Fedor.

Fuck that. Dana caved to fedor financially.

It was m1 global who ruined that deal. UFC would have been in debt if they did all fedor and his team demanded. They were money launders

 

[Jon!]

Fuck that. Dana caved to fedor financially.

It was m1 global who ruined that deal. UFC would have been in debt if they did all fedor and his team demanded. They were money launders

They only needed to do it for one show - Fedor-Brock.

 

[Carrotman23]

Once they big projects (The Line for example) fail and they have trillion on losses, it will matter.

Your reading too much into what I'm saying, Trust me I know and agree that Gulf states (especially Saudi Arabia, and the UAE) are extremely precarious, (and wouldn't exist without the Ottoman Empires European rivals creating them after WW1) ,It is highly unlikely that they'll be able to diversify their economies and they will face more pressure as popular forces in West Asia threaten their political legitimacy, and its a tragedy what the House Of Saud has done to Mecca .

While The Line isn't officially ended, it is scaled back, and is a complete joke of a project, although they seem serious enough about it to execute and torture people to death. But even then maybe its just a money laundering scheme and a way to evict people from their land for all we know.

Spoiler

Scrutiny heightened as construction began in October of 2022, when reports surfaced that the Saudi government had issued death sentences and lengthy prison sentences to six members of the Howeitat tribe, which has long inhabited the proposed site, for resisting their eviction. In May 2023, a group of United Nations–appointed human rights experts issued a report outlining allegations of torture and other mistreatment involving the sentenced Howeitet people, warning the Saudi government of potential violations against international law.

Saudi Arabia’s The Line Drastically Scales Back Its Ambitions

According to an unnamed official, the initial phase of the proposed 106-mile linear city of the future will now be just 1.5 miles long by 2030.

www.architecturalrecord.com

My point isn't that Saudi Arabia is a stable economically diverse state lol (obviously its not) my point is that the UFC could make big fights in Saudi Araba using House Of Saud money with relative ease, rather then having MMA fighters feel like they have to go to Boxing to get that cut. But for that the UFC pay structure would have to change.

 

[USA!USA!]

Don't blame him at all. Make as much dough as you can - this gig is very short. Cannot do this forever.

 

[joy2day]

Do I like the idea of stunt fights? Do like pure spectacle in fighting?

No way.

Is it understandable that Tom is thinking this way?

Of course. I would be thinking the same thing if I were in his shoes; it makes sense for him personally to take a fight like that.

 

[Michael Wetzel]

He will fare no better than Francis, Conor, or Askren. MMA striking is verry different from boxing.

 

[Carrotman23]

He will fare no better than Francis, Conor, or Askren. MMA striking is verry different from boxing.

I mean yeah he practically admits as much and says its just for a payday ha.

 

[Gladiator24]

He would get ironed out in a boxing match by any of the current top 15. His standup is sloppy and reckless

 

[Sms_productions713]

They only needed to do it for one show - Fedor-Brock.

I’m sorry, but Brock and fedor was not worth a brand new stadium in Russia and co promotion