Jon Jones’ astronomical UFC pay for Tom Aspinall fight ‘leaked’ as Dana White meets his huge demands

Jon Jones is in line to receive a huge UFC purse if he faces Tom Aspinall.

Jon Jones’ astronomical UFC pay for his proposed super-fight against Tom Aspinall has been ‘leaked’.

Jones vs. Aspinall continues to drag on as Dana White looks to make the biggest UFC fight of the year.

‘Bones’ seemingly called time on his career before making a stunning U-turn, claiming the UFC are ready to make an announcement.

But the Brit, 32, isn’t buying what Jones is selling, insisting his rival is ‘retired’.

But UFC legend Chael Sonnen is not convinced Jones will walk away from a bout against Aspinall as he revealed the star fighter’s UFC purse for the heavyweight showdown.

Sonnen, who fought Jones during his storied MMA career, claims the 37-year-old American is set to earn a whopping $12 million (£8.9 million) if he faces Aspinall and said it will be bigger than what Brock Lesnar, Georges St-Pierre and Ronda Rousey earned during their legendary UFC careers.

Tom Aspinall looks on as Jon Jones speaks after his UFC 309 victory. Image: Getty

“I don’t believe Jon Jones is turning this fight down. I don’t believe that,” he said on his YouTube channel.

“There’s a story going around that is largely believed.

“Jon’s cheque at the end of the night will be the biggest cheque that he’s ever got. It will be the biggest cheque anyone has ever got from the UFC. It will beat out [Brock] Lesnar, it will beat out Georges [St-Pierre]… it will crush Ronda’s [Rousey].”

Tom Aspinall sends message to Jon Jones after UFC 304 win
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Speaking on The Ariel Helwani Show, Sonnen also shared his thoughts on the drawn-out talks between Jones and Aspinall, saying the contest is getting ‘smaller, not bigger.’

“I’ve never in my life seen something like this, it’s going the other way. This fight isn’t getting headlines anymore,” he told Ariel Helwani.

“I don’t think that’s anything with the UFC and their ability. I think they could flip that script real quick… I have my own hypothesis, which is the audience is not convinced they’re going to get it. They don’t want to get excited. They don’t want to hear about it anymore. They just don’t believe we can get that fight to the ring.

“This fight is getting smaller, not bigger.”

Jones, who won the vacant UFC heavyweight title against Ciryl Gane in 2023, returned to the Octagon when he stopped Stipe Miocic in the third round to defend his championship at UFC 309 last November.

As for interim champion Aspinall, he hasn’t fought since his 60-second demolition of Curtis Blaydes at UFC 304 in Manchester last summer.

Tom Aspinall leaves UFC legends speechless with Jon Jones fight update that every fan needs to hear

The Interim UFC Heavyweight champion gave his thoughts when he spoke to Daniel Cormier and Chael Sonnen.

UFC Interim Heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall has issued a huge update on his potential fight with Jon Jones.

Aspinall, 32, has been chasing the Jones fight for some time, and several fans have even accused the American of being ‘scared’ to face the unbeaten British fighter.

On Monday (June 2), Aspinall appeared on the Good Guy/Bad Guy podcast alongside UFC legends Daniel Cormier and Chael Sonnen.

Cormier asked the 32-year-old if the UFC had made a decision with regards to the fight.

“Nah man, Jon is retired,” Aspinall said. “What are you talking about guys?

“You guys don’t follow Jon on social media? Me too [I don’t follow him].

Tom Aspinall gave his thoughts (Credit:Getty)

“But the guy is living his best life. He’s had a fantastic career, we all know.

“We know Jon’s a religious man, so I want to say God bless him moving forward in what he does in his life and his career.

“We move on. I’m the undisputed heavyweight champion of the world. I’m ready to take on all comers, get this division moving again

“Us guys have been waiting around too long, the contenders are getting sick of it, everybody is getting sick of it, even the fans are getting sick of this stuff.

“So Jon’s retired and it’s time that we move on.”

Jon Jones last fought in November 2024 (Credit:Getty)

He later posted a message on social media, which read: “Us guys have been waiting around too long, the contenders are getting sick of it, everybody is getting sick of it, even the fans are getting sick of this stuff.

“So Jon’s retired, and it’s time that we move on.”

Speaking in Thailand last week, Jones also issued a shock update on the situation and seemingly performed a U-turn on his previous stance.

A fan asked: “When are you fighting Tom?”

To which Jones replied: “I was waiting for it,” before adding: “The UFC, I, and Tom, we’ve all got a lot of stuff happening behind the scenes.

“They’re one of the biggest organisations in sports. Right now, Tom and I have agreed to wait for the UFC to make their announcements.

“So, legally I can’t really talk about it.”Featured Image Credit: Good Guy/Bad GuyTopics: Tom Aspinall, Jon Jones, UFC, MMA, Daniel Cormier

Jon Jones performs stunning U-turn as he provides the biggest update yet on Tom Aspinall fight

Jon Jones claims the UFC are ready to make an announcement.

Jon Jones has performed a stunning U-turn as he has provided the biggest update yet on the proposed UFC super-fight against Tom Aspinall.

The undisputed UFC heavyweight showdown between Jones and Aspinall remains in the works as Dana White looks to make the biggest fight of the year.

Talks have dragged on as an official UFC announcement has yet to be made.

‘Bones’ seemingly retired from MMA last month as he appeared disinterested in facing Aspinall inside the famed Octagon.

Aspinall bemoaned his inactivity in the UFC, having not fought since his 60-second demolition of Curtis Blaydes last July.

But, according to Jones, ‘a lot of stuff is happening behind the scenes’ in a positive update, seemingly ending his retirement.

He is currently in Thailand hosting and teaching seminars, where he held a fan Q&A.

Tom Aspinall sends message to Jon Jones after UFC 304 win
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Naturally, he was asked about Aspinall.

A fan asked: “When are you fighting Tom?”

To which Jones replied: “I was waiting for it,” before adding: “The UFC, I, and Tom, we’ve all got a lot of stuff happening behind the scenes.

“They’re one of the biggest organisations in sports. Right now, Tom and I have agreed to wait for the UFC to make their announcements.

“So, legally I can’t really talk about it.”

Jones’ latest comments suggest a deal has been struck between himself and Aspinall.

“Tom and I have agreed to wait for the UFC to make their announcements. So legally I can’t really talk about it.” – Jon Jones on the Tom Aspinall fight

Jones, who won the vacant UFC heavyweight title against Ciryl Gane in March 2023, hasn’t fought since his third-round victory over Stipe Miocic at UFC 309 last November.

He defended his UFC heavyweight championship in the process.

As for the British star, as mentioned, he beat Blaydes to defend his interim UFC heavyweight title in Manchester at UFC 304 last summer.

After prolonged discussions, it appears Jones vs. Aspinall is nearing a done deal in what promises to be a monstrous clash.

Jon Jones issues savage putdown to Tom Aspinall after British fighter said he ‘doesn’t care’ about fighting UFC legend

The UFC superfight saga goes on and o

The wait for concrete news about a title unification fight between Jon Jones and Tom Aspinall goes on and UFC fans are growing tired of its tedious twists and turns.

Jones has held the UFC heavyweight title belt for more than two years but has defended it only once in that time, beating veteran Stipe Miocic last November.

English fighter Aspinall defeated Sergei Pavlovich a year earlier to claim the interim title and successfully defended it against Curtis Blaydes at UFC 304 last year.

Aspinall holds the record as the longest-serving interim heavyweight champion in UFC history.

If he defends it again, he will become only the second fighter in the history of UFC to defend an interim title twice before a unification fight. Typically a fighter who wins an interim belt will enter the octagon for their next fight against the champion.

Dana White announces huge UFC 317 main-event
Credit: Dana White

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The elusive champion has been in Thailand spending time training in between issuing mysterious updates on social media.

Jones blamed UFC for delaying the unification bout against an eager Aspinall but later claimed – again – to be retired from the sport after months of behind-the-scenes negotiations over what what be a massively anticipated superfight.

It would certainly be a bigger draw than the touted alternative between Aspinall and Ciryl Gane, from whom Jones won the heavyweight belt in the first place.

“I’m done,” said ‘Bones’ on camera.

If the 37-year-old is done, it will have been news to UFC president and CEO Dana White, who recently said on a livestream that he remains confident that a Jones vs Aspinall unification blockbuster bout will happen in 2025.

UFC interim champion Tom Aspinall has been outspoken about his desire to fight Jon Jones and unify the belts (Image: Getty)

Aspinall, who claims to be a “bad match-up” for Jones, has unsurprisingly had enough. In an interview with Mighty, he said: “I’ve been inactive for nearly a year. And I’m just being told to wait. I don’t care about fighting Jon Jones, I just want to be the undisputed champion.”

The heavyweight champion was quicker to accept a scrap on social media than he is in the octagon, replying: “Shut your mouth and do as you’re told.”

At the time of writing, he remains retired.

Featured Image Credit: Mighty/YouTube & ESPN/YouTube

Jon Jones speaks out after ‘announcing retirement’ as he drops cryptic Tom Aspinall fight update

Jon Jones issued an update about his UFC career.

Jon Jones has spoken out after ‘announcing his retirement’ from MMA as he has given a cryptic update for a potential fight against Tom Aspinall.

UFC heavyweight champion Jones has been rumoured to face Aspinall, who currently holds the interim UFC heavyweight title.

An undisputed showdown has been in the works, with Dana White working behind the scenes to make the bout.

But Jones vs. Aspinall has yet to announced.

The UFC clash plunged into serious doubt when ‘Bones’ seemingly called time on his UFC career as he issued a huge update on his future.

He then fired back at a UFC fan who claimed he has wasted Aspinall’s prime.

The Brit, 32, hasn’t fought since his 60-second drubbing of Curtis Blaydes at UFC 304 in Manchester last summer.

He’s been waiting on the sidelines for a chance at undisputed UFC glory.

Tom Aspinall looks on as Jon Jones speaks after his UFC 309 victory. Image: Getty

But, as of yet, a deal to face Jones inside the famed Octagon has yet to be finalised.

Speaking to Demetrious Johnson, Aspinall opened up about his mindset, having not fought in almost a year.

“Now, I’ve been almost a year inactive with no prospects of anything apart from wait,” he said.

“It’s kind of difficult mentally, but this is the fight against Jon Jones. The fight is another thing, this is the tricky bit where I really have to stay switched on, stay motivated, and I’m trying my best. It’s tough sometimes.”

Jon Jones responds to Tom Aspinall ducking claims
Credit: Jon Jones

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Despite Jones’ supposed retirement stance, he claims he has the ability to ‘pop out’ and return to action as he dropped a cryptic update about his future in the UFC.

On X, he wrote: “I don’t know if I wanna call it retired, I feel like I’ll always have an ability to pop out and show em. I’ve had many breaks throughout my career, my identity outside of fighting is well intact. I’m genuinely enjoying life, I’m growing in different ways.”

Jones, 37, hasn’t fought since his third-round victory over Stipe Miocic in New York City last November.

He has one UFC heavyweight title defence to his name after claiming the vacant championship against Ciryl Gane.