The host of “The Joe Rogan Experience,” Joe Rogan, recently took back his earlier remarks about UFC heavyweight champion Jon Jones allegedly demanding $30 million to face interim champion Tom Aspinall. Rogan explained that he was personally told by UFC President Dana White that such allegations were baseless.
According to the first rumor, Jones wanted to fight Aspinall for the heavyweight title unification in order to earn a sizable salary. In a podcast, Rogan had brought up this number and said he hoped the UFC would accept the conditions.
However, Rogan addressed the false information on his podcast after getting clarification from Dana White, saying: “I have to correct something. I had heard a rumor that Jon Jones wanted $30 million to fight Tom Aspinall… Dana contacted me and said that rumor is [expletive]. So I felt obligated to tell everybody that was a fake rumor.”
The MMA community has taken a keen interest in the highly anticipated fight between Jon Jones and Tom Aspinall. This fight has drawn the curiosity of UFC President Dana White, who has called it “the biggest fight in heavyweight history” and an important event in the company’s history.
Jones has implied that he will demand high fees for future fights, calling it “f**k you money.” Jones most recently defended his heavyweight belt at UFC 309 by knocking out Stipe Miocic. His financial expectations for an encounter against Aspinall have been the subject of speculation as a result.
Discussions concerning the cost of planning such a widely reported fight persist even after the $30 million demand rumor was withdrawn. Daniel Cormier, a former UFC champion, questioned why the UFC paid Jones so much money, pointing out that even high-paid fighters like Conor McGregor might not have brought in that much money for a single match.
Fans and experts are anxiously awaiting formal details regarding the terms and schedule of the fight as the UFC works through the difficulties of setting up this heavyweight title unification match. Given that both boxers are at the height of their careers, the possible fight between Jones and Aspinall seems to be a historic occasion in the history of the sport.