Masvidal wonders who in the
UFC is getting paid their worth, if not Jon Jones.
Jones (28-1) and the UFC had a public falling out since the
announcement of the
UFC White House card. Jones initially stalled the heavyweight
division for over a year before retiring unceremoniously last June.
Dana White kept promising that Jones would fight interim champion
Tom
Aspinall. White would even ragebait reporters who questioned
him about Jones by labelling “Bones” the greatest fighter that ever
lived. While Jones retired without fighting Aspinall, he returned
to the drug testing pool as soon as the White House card was first
mentioned. However, White always sounded sceptical about the idea,
citing Jones’ unreliability.
Despite rallying for a spot on the card for nearly a year, Jones
failed to make it. White said that Jones was never part of the plan
for the White House card. Jones lashed out on social media,
claiming to have been in lengthy negotiations with the UFC. Jones
has since asked for his UFC release.
A Proper Sendoff
Masvidal hopes the falling out between Jones and the UFC didn’t
happen over a paycheck. Recalling White’s own words, Masvidal
questions who deserves to get a paycheck they ask for, if not the
best fighter that ever lived. If not the White House card, Masvidal
wants Jones to get a proper sendoff with a massive fight and
payday.
“I just know that Jon Jones is
one of the best fighters ever,” Masvidal said on the “Death Row MMA” podcast. “You want to see the
guy get paid. But at the same time, there has been inconsistencies
with Jon in the past and Dana… I hope it’s not a money issue… If
it’s because they don’t want to pay Jon, that’s some s—t to me.
Because out of Dana White’s own mouth – ‘Jon Jones is
one of the best fighters that’s ever lived.’ So if the best fighter
that ever lived ain’t getting paid what he deserves, who is?… If
he’s not in the White House card, just put him somewhere else. Put
him in a big fight… I want to see Jon Jones, and
not just against anybody. I want to see him against the biggest,
baddest, best heavyweight possible. Let’s make that fight happen.
Let’s give Jon Jones a
paycheck he deserves before he rides off into the sunset.”