“You’re Willing to Pay Other Fighters Tens of Millions of Dollars”- Jon Jones Blasts UFC

A fight between Francis Ngannou and Jon Jones would undoubtedly be one of the most engaging bouts taking place this year. And that’s saying something, considering how we have already witnessed a series of breathtaking fights.

These included fights from Israel Adesanya taking on Yoel Romero early this year to the entire UFC 249 fight card, with Justin Gaethje vs Tony Ferguson and Dominick Cruz vs Henry Cejudo acting as co-headliners.

Yet, a fight between Jones and Ngannou would have topped them all. The sheer power and brutish strength that Ngannou brings, combined with Jones’ skills and lethal accuracy, the fight would undoubtedly have been a banger.

However, a monetary dispute between the promotion and Jon Jones has derailed this fight. Bones claims that the UFC should offer a more lucrative deal upfront, considering everything that he has to lose.

“You’re willing to pay other fighters tens of millions of dollars to fight, but you’re not going to give me $1 extra to put my life on the line against Francis Ngannou? You’re asking me to take the single riskiest fight in the UFC. Period, and you don’t want to pay me more for that? That’s probably one of the riskiest fights in the history of the sport as far as what he has with his skill set and our size difference,” Jones said on The MMA Road Show with John Morgan.

Jon Jones wants the UFC to step it up

Jones is looking to make a lot of money if he takes a fight against Ngannou over a fight against any of the Light Heavyweights in the division. A fight against Dominick Reyes and Jan Blachowicz is not as lustrous as one against The Predator.

The buzz that already surrounds the fight would ensure a heavy inflow of finances if the fight materializes. The enduring back and forth between Jones and Ngannou over social media, ever since the latter’s win over Jairzinho Rozenstruik, has only further stoked the fire.

“Where’s the compensation for the raw entertainment factor of watching Francis Ngannou fight against a guy who’s 40 pounds smaller than him? How do I get compensated for that? That’s my argument,” enquires Jones.

Therefore, Jones believes that the UFC should offer a greater deal. He feels that the UFC should pay him upfront, instead of adjusting his compensation according to the profits of the PPV.

With the coronavirus pandemic tightening its grip across the promotion’s throat, it is no surprise that they are a little reluctant to part with such big an amount.

Do you think the UFC should settle their dispute with Jones to make this fight a reality?