The much-anticipated UFC heavyweight unification bout between Jon Jones and Tom Aspinall, already confirmed as "the biggest fight in UFC history" by UFC CEO Dana White, is getting attention from everywhere.
Although White has guaranteed the fight will "100 percent" take place in 2025, ongoing contract negotiations on Jones' side could pose a hurdle.
The reigning heavyweight champion wants to be "well compensated" and is expected to demand "that '(expletive)-you money'."
Jon Jones is asked how much he wants to get paid to fight Tom Aspinall:
— Championship Rounds (@ChampRDS) November 17, 2024
“A very, very high number… I want to be compensated to the point where if I won or lost, that it really wouldn’t matter.”#UFC #MMA #UFC309 pic.twitter.com/NXSUxN9CyN
Amid the speculation, professional boxer and influencer Jake Paul has entered the conversation with his own breakdown of what Jones should demand for the high-stakes clash.
Posting a detailed message on X, Paul shared his thoughts on Jones’ worth.
Did my math. Understand their hope to have Jon Jones lose so they can create the next man. So…
— Jake Paul (@jakepaul) December 15, 2024
Bones should be getting a $50M guarantee for that fight. And $10 for every PPV buy above 600K.
If they offer that to Jon, it’s fair. He should take it
"Did my math. Understand their hope to have Jon Jones lose so they can create the next man. So…," Paul wrote. "Bones should be getting a $50M guarantee for that fight. And $10 for every PPV buy above 600K.
"If they offer that to Jon, it’s fair. He should take it."
Paul’s proposed guarantee far surpasses what UFC analyst Jon Anik speculated on Nov. 21, pitching a $20-$25 million payday for Jones.
According to a report from Front Office Sports, Anik's figure would already make Jones the second-highest earner in UFC history's total compensation rankings in just a single fight, only trailing Connor McGregor's $39.3 million estimated career earnings.
Jones, who most recently defended his title by defeating Stipe Miocic at UFC 309, has not disclosed his desired figure for the fight.
Meanwhile, Tom Aspinall, the interim heavyweight champion, has been hailed as the division’s future after dominant wins over Sergei Pavlovich and Curtis Blaydes, and Paul believes the UFC would side with him to put a fresh face atop the heavyweight division.
“100 percent [it’s a priority]," White said about making the Jones vs. Aspinall fight happen in 2025. “I think it’s probably the biggest fight in heavyweight history, and it’s a massive in the history of the company, too.
”It’s a big fight.”
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