An insider claims to have revealed the substantial offer from the UFC to Jon Jones for a potential fight with Tom Aspinall.
The top MMA promotion has been working on arranging this major heavyweight clash since last November but has not yet finalized the agreement.
This comes despite UFC president Dana White and his team agreeing to Jones` demand for what he termed “f**k you money” for the significant heavyweight title unification bout.
Veteran UFC commentator Joe Rogan had previously made a sensational claim that Jones demanded £22 million ($30 million) to unify the belts, though White quickly disputed that figure.
Now, three-time UFC title challenger Chael Sonnen claims that the former top-ranked fighter would earn a guaranteed purse of £8.9 million ($12 million) if he steps into the octagon with Aspinall.
Speaking on his YouTube channel, Sonnen stated: “I don’t believe Jon Jones has turned down this fight. Whatever that number was, and I believe it to be $12 million, in case you’re interested. Got my own sources.”
“The UFC said, ‘Okay’. Jon’s check at the end of the night will be the biggest check he’s ever got.”
“It will be the biggest check anyone has ever got from the UFC. It will beat out [Brock] Lesnar, it will beat out Georges [St-Pierre].”
“Ronda Rousey’s weren’t as big as they embellished, it will crush hers.”
Jones, aged 37, has recently caused uncertainty among MMA fans by hinting at potential retirement, which would mean walking away from what is being described as the biggest payday of his career.
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According to White, Jones` indecision about retirement surfaced after he had actually “AGREED” to face the British fighter Aspinall.
White confirmed at the UFC 316 post-fight press conference: “Jon Jones agreed to do the fight. Jon Jones was offered the deal and accepted the deal. Jon agreed to fight Tom, yes.”
“You guys have heard me for the last however long, `I guarantee this fight is going to happen. This fight’s going to happen.`”
“You told me about all the crazy s**t that’s going on on Instagram, and all these other places.”
“But yes, I’ve been saying Jon is going to fight Tom.”
However, White`s formerly strong confidence in making the fight happen, which SunSport understands was tentatively aimed for UFC 322 in November, appears to be weakening.
He conceded: “Listen, you can’t make people fight, if Jon doesn’t want to fight, you can’t make him fight.”
“We can try to make him fight, we can throw things at him that inspire him to want to fight.”
“But we’ll figure it out.”
Jones, the former long-standing light-heavyweight champion, has not competed since defeating Stipe Miocic at Madison Square Garden last November at UFC 309.
Meanwhile, Aspinall from Wigan has been sidelined since his rapid victory over Curtis Blaydes in just 60 seconds at UFC 304 last July.
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