No news is bad news if it gets everyone talking. Joe Rogan did get everyone talking about a mammoth asking for a $30 million purse for Jon Jones to fight Tom Aspinall possibly. But now, Rogan walked back on the tinge of falsehood he previously reported on Thursday. The veteran podcaster even “felt obligated to tell everybody” that it was not factual for Dana White and Co. to pay the said amount.
One would think Rogan of all people is a viable source of UFC information given his friendship with Dana White. He is, but this time, he played the hopeful fan as well. Wishing the brass validated Jon Jones’ ask for mega fight money. “Bones” vs. Tom Aspinall is the heavyweight title fight to make after all. Even White agrees on that much. But now, there’s more to that story.
I had heard a rumor that Jon Jones wanted $30 million to fight Tom Aspinall. And I did hear that rumor. And I did hear that the UFC said yes, …But that’s not true. Dana contacted me and said that rumor is bullsh*t. So, I felt obligated to tell everybody that was a fake rumor. … We did that podcast two weeks ago; I don’t remember who told me that.
Joe Rogan on the ‘JRE’ Show #2253 – Theo Von – PowerfulJRE (@joerogan)
After Rogan went public with the figure, it caused enough of a ripple that promotional CEO Dana White reached out. He clarified the tidbit and made the veteran podcaster refute the viral claim. Does that mean Jon Jones is asking for more money?
Both he and the Brit’s side did say that the heavyweight champion met with brass and talks were on. Now retracting it, Joe Rogan thinks the MMA clique – the UFC brass, and Aspinall should give the GOAT space to decide. The spinning back-kick TKO at UFC 309 was Jon Jones’ second highlight at 265-pound mark. Having swiped out the best heavyweight Stipe Miocic, Jones now needs a legit reason to fight.
It’s either that or a money motivator, and to him, interim champ Tom Aspinall isn’t all that big a name. Dana White had guaranteed a match would happen. But it isn’t the first time “Bones” took the bench waiting for fight compensation.
Old rival doubts UFC pays Jon Jones $30 million to fight Tom Aspinall in unification fight
Jones (28-1 MMA, 22-1 UFC) proved he is a legit threat at heavyweight with his now 2-0 highlight performance. He has accordingly been highly dismissive of Tom Aspinall and wants about “f—k you” amounts of handsome fighter compensation for it. Daniel Cormier thinks UFC champion’s $30 million wishful payday for a fight with Tom Aspinall would be a stretch.
Is Jon Jones overpricing his value for Tom Aspinall fight? (Source: X)Cormier, a former UFC dual-champion and two-time opponent of Jones, has had his share of big pay-per-view events. He discussed his paydays as champion and UFC’s negotiations with Jones.
$30 million was literally a world away…Rogan thinks that the UFC will pay the $30 million to get Jon Jones in there with Tom Aspinall, I’m not sure he gets to $30…but if you ask for 30 and you end up with 20 or you get 15, that’s a win for Jon Jones on his way out.
Daniel Cormier via his Official YT Channel (@@DC_MMA)
Cormier doesn’t think $30 million is necessarily unreasonable – given Jones’ past pay-per-view and gate numbers. However, he doesn’t see him getting paid exactly that outlandish amount. Aspinall is by default a lock for this matchup anyway. Is “Bones” overpricing the bid for what ‘DC’ says $15 million is a good sum on his way out? Will this fight ever happen? There’s just no telling yet.
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