Revealed: The huge payday 'Jon Jones rejected to face Tom Aspinall' before his retirement as details of U-turn emerge
UFC chief Dana White revealed last month that Jones has retired from the promotion in a bombshell announcement. Jones, arguably the greatest MMA fighter of all time, was the company's undisputed heavyweight champion but his title has now been passed to Aspinall.
White made the announcement in an explosive press conference in Baku, Azerbaijan, where he revealed Jones called on to inform him and UFC officials that he would not be fighting again.
Jones then posted a lengthy statement on social media, after fans had long accused him of dodging a fight with Aspinall, which was long billed as the bout everyone wanted to see in the heavyweight division.
Jones, who ended his career with a 28-1 career record, won the vacant heavyweight title in March 2023. But the 38-year-old did not fight since defeating Stipe Miocic in November. Aspinall held the interim belt for 18 months but a unification fight between the two did not materialise.
Now, it has emerged that Jones reportedly turned down mega money for the fight before opting to call it a day.
'I think he didn't want to fight him,' Ariel Helwani said on Impaulsive. 'I think it was a calculated decision on his part.
'Why did you drag this out all the way until June when you knew you weren't going to fight him? He gave the UFC a number. I believe it's in the $30 million range for this fight. And by the way, I think he deserves it.
'He didn't think they would come up with the number, and they did. I believe Saudi Arabia was involved. The big dogs were involved. He said yes, and then two days later he said, "Nah, on second thought, I'm out". I think he was hoping they would not meet the number and he could go, "Hey guys, I tried".'
White previously said that Jones had agreed to fight Aspinall but they were awaiting paperwork.
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