Last week at Madison Square Garden, the UFC heavyweight kingpin made his long-awaited return to the octagon after a year, not only ending the drought in the heavyweight division but also bringing in a payday of $10 million, combining PPV earnings. In Conor McGregor’s language, we’d call this a “red pa**y night,” as the fight’s PPV buys reportedly skyrocketed to 800,000. While many would be thrilled to pocket such a hefty sum, Jon Jones is not like everyone else.

Despite the impressive payday, he gave the head honcho an ultimatum after the fight, stating that if he were to fight the interim champion, he would need “that ‘f**k you’ money.” This statement raised eyebrows in the MMA community, with fighter-turned-analyst Chael Sonnen recently offering his take on Jon Jones’ bold remarks.

Chael Sonnen reflects on Jon Jones’ bold remarks

UFC 309, in its 8th outing at Madison Square Garden, was remarkable not just for the impressive PPV sales but also for breaking the live gate record. It became the highest-grossing UFC event of 2024, generating $16,673,954 with an audience of 20,200. However, despite its success, it didn’t quite match the historic numbers of UFC 205 PPV headlined by Conor McGregor way back in 2016. The comparison between the two events stirred conversations among MMA fans and analysts.

Chael Sonnen, unfazed by the situation, addressed the matter on his YouTube channel. He remarked, “In UFC history—and if that isn’t literal—he’s still not quite going to touch Conor’s numbers, right? I mean, it’s not literal, but it’d be really close.” Sonnen also took the opportunity to question Jon Jones’ earlier complaints about wanting more pay, stating that Jones already receives what he is worth. He explained, “And there’s no end to that. That is what’s so amazing about it. To give away pay-per-view points—this is not done in any other industry anywhere. Nobody gives a $1,099 employee a piece of the business without them writing a check.”

Sonnen further elaborated on the unique nature of UFC contracts, emphasizing the risks and rewards involved in profit sharing. He concluded by putting the debate to rest, saying, “Only in this industry, and only Dana White, out of pure graciousness, gives the guys what’s known as participation. So, for every pay-per-view sold, your check goes up.” 

With the success of UFC 309 cementing its status as a lucrative night for the fighters on the card, Dana White celebrated a mix of salaries, bonuses, and revenue. However, the event didn’t impress Jake Paul, who recently shared his thoughts on the UFC 309 spectacle.

Jake Paul mocks Dana White’s UFC 309

Jake Paul and Dana White have been at odds for some time, with Jake Paul consistently criticizing the UFC president. Paul has accused Dana White of underpaying fighters, mistreating them, and failing to properly promote their fights. He hasn’t shied away from taking verbal jabs at White, even calling out UFC fighters for boxing matches. For instance, a few months ago, Paul called out Alex Pereira after ‘The Problem Child’s’ win over Mike Perry, which only fueled Dana White’s anger.

Now, Jake Paul is riding high after his historic clash with Mike Tyson, which earned an estimated $100 million in total revenue, with a live gate of $18.1 million. With his cut from various revenue sources, Paul is set to receive $40 million. Fueled by his success, Paul didn’t hesitate to take another jab at the head honcho, claiming that he’s now surpassing the UFC in revenue success.

On X, Jake Paul tweeted, “Crazy that we did a bigger gate than every UFC event in history and that company is 30 years old. Biggest attendance of Mike Tyson’s career. Biggest viewership of Mike Tyson’s career. Biggest gate of Mike Tyson’s career outside of Vegas. Biggest combat sports gate in US combat sports history outside of Las Vegas.”

What’s your take on Chael Sonnen’s remark? Do you think $10 million is insufficient for Jon Jones, leading him to demand a higher payday from the UFC, or is it more about him trying to avoid a tough matchup with the undefeated Brit, Tom Aspinall? Share your thoughts below.