Former UFC light heavyweight and heavyweight champion Jon Jones is currently on the outs with the UFC, after negotiations for him to appear on the Freedom 250 card at the White House fell through.
While UFC CEO and President Dana White has insisted that Jones was never going to headline the show, the fighter has been insistent that negotiations were ongoing up to this past Friday.
On Saturday, the promotion announced the Freedom 250 card, headlined by Ilia Topuria vs. Justin Gaethje, and featuring Alex Pereira taking on Ciryl Gane for a interim heavyweight title while champ Tom Aspinall recovers from eye surgery.
Aspinall is now one of two unlikely supporters backing Jones in his latest falling out with the promotion. The current heavyweight champ petitioned to fight Jones last year, with a fight briefly being agreed to before “Bones” backed out.
“This is probably going to be crazy to a lot of people listening, but why is the UFC not giving Jon the respect he deserves financially? That’s crazy to me,” Aspinall said on The Ariel Helwani Show recently.
“If anyone should be getting paid a lot in this sport, it should be Jon Jones for the stuff that he’s done. And that’s me saying that!” Aspinall exclaimed. “After the history that I’ve had with Jon Jones.”
“They offered him $30 million to fight me. Why don’t they offer it again? I don’t understand,” he finished.
Would-be foe Francis Ngannou, who fans have long wanted to see face Jones, has also spoken out in support of the man many consider MMA’s Greatest of All Time (GOAT).
“Watching this story unfold yesterday was very interesting,” Ngannou wrote on social media. “I have lots to say, but for now, Jonny boy, if you manage to get your freedom, then let me know. You deserve that $30M+ after everything you’ve done for the sport, and they should be rolling out the RED CARPET for you.”
Jon Jones campaigned for a spot on the White House card for months and returned to the UFC’s drug testing pool after a brief retirement to facilitate the opportunity. Jones is undefeated in his career save for a DQ loss to Matt Hamill for illegal 12-6 elbows, which have since been permitted under the Unified Rules of MMA.
After his latest fracture with the UFC, Jones has requested his release from the promotion.