Jones ain't gonna fight Aspinall

[RedDevilFan]

Are there any other champs who demand "f u money" to defend their belt against the rightful contender? Shouldn't he already be on a very good contract, especially as a champ?

It's clearly a duck to let's say defend against Pereira or Stipe for 5-10m but demand 30m to fight Ngannou or Aspinall.

Maybe Merab will call out Dominic Cruz and fight him for free, and demand 20m to fight Umar.

The difference is that Jones is an old man on borrowed time and out of his prime, Merab has done nothing similar to jones, when he has put in the work that jones has done for years, he can do anything he wants.

I do not begrudge any fighter looking to make as much money as they can. This is not prime jones or a young rookie coming up the ranks. He is trying to cash out and make as much money as he can before he retires. Connor makes 30+ mil a fight, fighting fighters not even on the same level as the ones jones is fighting. Conor is a big draw, so we get it but come on.

Jones already said he does not want someone to make a name off of him, and at jones old elderly age that is what they would be doing.So he wants to compensated with money for someone to have his name on their resume or worth a big money fight.

 

[188912345]

Jones is an old man on borrowed time and has a few fights left. He is trying to cash out and make as much money as he can and has stated such. Connor makes 30 mil a fight, and for good reason so why shouldnt someone like jones who is out of his prime. has a bad toe injury against a hungry rookie looking to make his name off of jones.

Jones already said he does not want someone to make a name off of him, and at jones old elderly age that is what they would be doing. So he wants f you money and madde 15 million for Stipe. So 20-30 million for Tom looks good.

I understand, but I don't think it's a valid argument to use as a champ to deny the defending interim champ his shot.

All experienced champs risk that their next opponent will make a name out of them, it kind of goes with the territory when a belt is on the line.

What Jon should do is to use his "not wanting someone to make a name out of him" as motivation to train like a madman, and dominate him when they fight. That's what a real champ would do.

Imagine if Volk thought the same and refused to give Topuria his shot. It's bad for the sport, divisions would move even slower than they do now if more fighters acted like that.

I have more understanding for Merab being annoyed with having to give Umar his shot since he had to win so many fights to finally get his shot, and Umar had a much smoother path.

 

[skylolow]

It is hilarious how so many of you can't see what is going on here even when Jones comes out and tells you.

The Stipe fight was a fight purely for Jones own reasons. He holds Stipe in very high regards in the history of the HW division and he wanted that W over him.

With Tom he knows this the biggest fight the UFC can make at HW without Alex coming up with out a doubt. Does him beating Tom do anything for his legacy long term, probably depends on how Tom ends his career. But as of now not a whole lot, so it probably doesn't give Jones the most motivation to just do it at this point. All he asking and rightfully so, just like he and Francis did with the UFC is make it worth my while to do this fight. UFC will make a killing on the event and I'd like a little larger piece of that pie than fighting just the next guy up. The UFC pays Jones an amount he deems fit and the fight will happen. Remember Jones did a lot of fighting just the next guy up for the UFC over the years and now he actually has some power at the negation table as has been utilizing that for the last few years pretty strongly.

Then he'd love to fight Alex as his final fight. He seems to really hold Alex highly just as most fans do, knows that is very winnable fight for himself, and can get paid mad a lot of money.

 

[RedDevilFan]

I understand, but I don't think it's a valid argument to use as a champ to deny the defending interim champ his shot.

All experienced champs risk that their next opponent will make a name out of them, it kind of goes with the territory when a belt is on the line.

What Jon should do is to use his "not wanting someone to make a name out of him" as motivation to train like a madman, and dominate him when they fight. That's what a real champ would do.

Imagine if Volk thought the same and refused to give Topuria his shot. It's bad for the sport, divisions would move even slower than they do now if more fighters acted like that.

I have more understanding for Merab being annoyed with having to give Umar his shot since he had to win so many fights to finally get his shot, and Umar had a much smoother path.

Jones motivation goes so far.

He is an old man who is retiring and MMA is a business, it is not recreation. These are business men and jones is an old lion with a few more roars.

Like other old lions, Jones wants to chase fights with other big names and legends that offer more legacy points and large paydays. Good or bad, Jones is knows there is an expiration date on every fighter’s career.

Each fighter has four significant tasks during their careers: have as much success as they can to establish a legacy, make as much money as possible during the process, leave the sport with the mental and physical faculties to enjoy retirement, and continue to earn post fighting (Forbes 2024). So i cannot begrudge an older fighter leaving the sport taking fights he wants.

So for that risk, jones wants to be compensated for giving these young fighters his name. Either money or legacy, they must have one of the other, and that is fair.

 

[Captain Herb]

imagine calling fans of the sport dick riders for thinking it makes zero sense for him to fight tom.

It makes sense because Jon is the champ and Tom is the interim champ. It makes a lot of sense if you think about it that way

 

[JKS]

Jon said the same thing about a Reyes rematch and fighting Francis and neither happened so I doubt it. Jon only just signed a new long term contract before the Gane fight that both he and Dana were bragging was the biggest in UFC HW history so I really don't think UFC are going to offer a much higher number. Jones has never been a massive draw like Conor or Brock.

Jon already had a contract in place for 8 fights. He just renegotiated numbers on his existing contract late 2022. He was happy with the pay and agreed for the Francis fight for UFC 285. The Francis fight not happening was on Francis, he had the offer in his contract but declined and moved on.

 

[188912345]

Jones motivation goes so far.

He is an old man who is out of his prime. Jones has lost his speed and explosiveness with age, that he no longer has. Jones has a toe injury that has not healed correctly, and will only fight with a tape on it as it is that bad. Father time is his enemy not Aspinall.

Like other greats, Jones wants to chase fights with other big names and legends that offer more legacy points and large paydays. Good or bad, Jones is knows there is an expiration date on every fighter’s career.

Each fighter has four significant tasks during their careers: have as much success as they can to establish a legacy, make as much money as possible during the process, leave the sport with the mental and physical faculties to enjoy retirement, and continue to earn post fighting. So i cannot begrudge an older fighter leaving the sport taking fights he wants.(Forbes 2024)

Jon said that he was willing to give up his belt for Tom. But Tom wants the jones fight and for good reason, he will be fighting a name, but an old one. This is a risky fight for jones.

I think this unprecedented, extreme level of ducking definitely will change his legacy, in a negative way. Most people would have more respect for a legend who continues to fight the very best, even if they lose in the end.

He should have given up his belt already after the post fight interview when he made it clear he's not interested in fighting Aspinall.

I can't remember anyone else in Jon's position refusing to fight someone because they are young and dangerous.

He's also come up with so many different kinds of excuses as to why Aspinall doesn't deserve it. "He's an asshole", "He's a nobody" "He's 7 years younger than me and 30 lbs heavier"; none of them are true, except the age. Obviously he knows it's a bad match-up and he's scared to lose, especially when he knows he doesn't have many fights left. The rest is just excuses.

It's the Ultimate Fighting Championship, not the Jon Jones Legacy Building Championship.

Rant over, agree to disagree .

 

[RedDevilFan]

He's also come up with so many different kinds of excuses as to why Aspinall doesn't deserve it. "He's an asshole", "He's a nobody" "He's 7 years younger than me and 30 lbs heavier"; none of them are true, except the age.

We do not know why jones does not want to fight Aspinall or if he is trolling to make UFC open their wallets. We do know that he wants money and big name fights. Aspinall is not a big name.

You say jones has made excuses but maybe he thinks they are true. Compared to Jones Tom is a nobody, which is true. He also could be an asshole who jones feels will not shut up. Who are you to say Tom is not all those things to jones. You may not think he is but jones may.

You being 7 years younger than jones means nothing. Jones has been fighting for over 16 years in the sport and began when he was very young. Fighters typically have a "prime fighting window" considered to be around 10 years, where they are physically at their peak. Boxers begin to retire from professional boxing around 35-years of age.

Jones has mentioned that he has been underpaid for most of his career and wants to make up for it, so who are we to say he shouldnt.

 

[Thepaintbucket]

A fight with Aspinall is still possible imo. Jones is creating drama and looking to renegotiate with the UFC. But more important of all he's patiently giving himself time to train for Tom. He's not going to jump into this matchup unless he's absolutely confident in his ability

 

[SpamuraiSensei]

Most people that post here are 13 year olds that watch the WWE and the UFC. Gane got taken down by a 1 legged Francis. Jones wasn't going to have any issues.

There is 2-3 fights that he should have lost. First fight against Gus being the main one. He poked him in the eye 4 times to win that one. He also failed 3 drug tests. In no legit sport would a 4 time drug cheat be called the best.

Like him or not, he's won every fight on the scorecards and that's all that matters in the grand scheme of things. Now look at where the guys he lost to are now. They couldn't keep up with the rest of the division that Jones ruled before they were even contenders. The first gus fight is irrelevant now. He's was beaten so soundly the second time that nobody wanted to see a 3rd.

 

[Laheys'Liquorland]

Who do you think you are kidding here exactly?

Why did Jon demand $30 million to fight Francis but come back and fight Gane for a fraction of that?

Why is he demanding "fuck you money that would make a loss sting less" to fight Aspinall but he took his normal rate to fight Stipe and is not demanding life changing money to fight Pereira?

If it's the UFC lowballing him why is Jon accepting lowball offers to fight some guys but not others?

I mean, it's you guys that keep saying Aspinall is unproven and unqualified to fight Jones right? Why is Jon demanding a UFC record payday to fight a nobody, but not to fight the "HW GOAT" or the biggest star currently in the sport in Poatan?

PPV buys on top of 30mil = retirement.
He was gonna retire after Big Frank.

Also Frank asked for just as much so.....

Was Big Frank ducking or was Goat Jones ducking?

Oh that's right UFC was ducking the pay.

 

[Dbreiden83080]

The only reason he didn't retire in the cage is because of all the ducking allegations. Jones' ego is too big to retire like that. His solution?: Pricing himself out in negotiations to "save face" and have an excuse to present to his staunchest dickriders then ride into the sunset after possibly holding onto his belt for another year. Maybe "injuring" himself in training along the way. Let's face it, this fight ain't never gonna happen

Price himself out. Dana alone is worth $500 million. You got a problem with Jones asking for a shit load of money? I remember a time around here when everybody was pro fighter when it came to purses..

 

[Dbreiden83080]

Most people that post here are 13 year olds that watch the WWE and the UFC. Gane got taken down by a 1 legged Francis. Jones wasn't going to have any issues.

There is 2-3 fights that he should have lost. First fight against Gus being the main one. He poked him in the eye 4 times to win that one. He also failed 3 drug tests. In no legit sport would a 4 time drug cheat be called the best.

Muhammad Ali had about five fights The argument could be made that he lost. So I guess he isn’t the greatest heavyweight boxer either.

 

[dogsdonutsdragons]

It makes sense because Jon is the champ and Tom is the interim champ. It makes a lot of sense if you think about it that way

it would be dumb if jon said im keeping the belt and fighting alex. he didnt say that

 

[dogsdonutsdragons]

a sport fan wants just one belt for division.

thats not in the argument because jon said he would vacate so he can do a super fight with alex.

 

[dogsdonutsdragons]

It sounds like you're more his target audience since you seem to know nothing about how championships are supposed to work.

jon said he would vacate the title.

 

[JakePaulMMA]

Lol.
Already making excuses.
Jones just said once again to the world...pay me Jake Paul/ Mayweather money.
Funny that UFC can lowball a fighter yet it's the fighters fault for not fighting.

Jon Jones all over Jake Paul's nuts

 

[ocfightfan]

Inflation has driven up the price of everything including hookers and blow. Jones is gonna get that bag, because he needs it.

 

[Captain Herb]

it would be dumb if jon said im keeping the belt and fighting alex. he didnt say that

He tried to at first, trying to float Alex as his next opponent at HW for the title. Then Dana dropped the hammer and said it's Tom or nothing, so Jon then said OK, I'll drop the belt and fight Pereira and then Pereira was like uh, no, that's not going to work. So the only way I see him fighting Alex is back at 205.

 

[Intermission]

He’s not getting the Pereira fight.

Why?