Is Jon Jones finally going to get paid Deontay Wilder money? If the UFC wants him to fight Tom Aspinall to unify the heavyweight titles, that’s what it could take.
Deontay Wilder made around $30 million for his second fight with Tyson Fury in February 2020 — a number that apparently stuck out in Jon Jones’ head when he approached the UFC about moving to heavyweight for a superfight against Francis Ngannou.
“I’ll quote him and what he had said to my lawyer,” White said at the time, referring to now UFC CBO Hunter Campbell. “He told my lawyer he wants what Deontay Wilder was paid.”
“Listen, it’s one thing to come out and say, ‘I want a little more money,’” White said in another interview. But the amount of money Jon Jones wanted? You couldn’t be asking for a more absurd amount of money at a worse time.”
That time was May 2020, just when the UFC had started holding fights again during the Pandemic and it was very questionable as to whether they’d be able to continue in the face of government restriction and public outcry.
Now things are very different, and it sounds like the UFC is willing to pay Jones that amount. UFC commentator Joe Rogan discussed what he was hearing in a new episode of his podcast.
“I think it’s gonna be Aspinall, I think they’re trying to come to some sort of agreement,” Rogan said. “The rumor is that he wants $30 million and the UFC is going to pay it. Hopefully.”
“I hope they pay it,” Rogan added.
While the UFC is notoriously stingy compared to boxing when it comes to big money fights, this could be the moment they splash some cash and make it clear that the top names in MMA are making top dollar. Okay, maybe not hundreds of millions like some boxers are making in Saudi Arabia these days, but $30 million, which is an acceptable amount to make as the best heavyweight fighter in the world.
Let’s just lay down a quick reminder: a million pay-per-views sold at $79.99 per unit is $80 million, and the UFC just made $16 million off Jones’ last gate. Jones making just 30% of what would be over $100 million in gross income is still on the low side of what he should be paid, and a total deal for the UFC.
We hope they pay it as well.
