Heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall has fully backed Jon Jones after the former light heavyweight king sought release from his UFC contract. Aspinall believes the promotion has failed to provide Jones with the appropriate compensation and respect matching his achievements. Speaking on The Ariel Helwani Show, Aspinall called it “crazy” that a fighter with Jones’ extensive résumé still has to negotiate for money with the organization.
Reacting to Jones’ public request for his release following stalled talks regarding a potential “UFC Freedom 250” event in June on the White House South Lawn, Aspinall emphasized that this is not merely a negotiation tactic, but a fundamental issue of pay and respect.
Tom Aspinall: “It’s Crazy That Jon Jones Still Has to Fight for Respect from the UFC”
“This might sound strange to many, but why isn’t the UFC showing Jon the financial respect he deserves?” Aspinall questioned. He reiterated that “if anyone should be getting paid big money in this sport, it’s Jon Jones.” Aspinall pointed to Jones’ more than ten-year tenure as a pay-per-view headliner, stating, “We’re talking about Conor McGregor and Jon Jones – these are the guys who have generated revenue for over a decade. They ought to be paid what they’re worth.”
Aspinall’s comments came after Jones claimed he underwent stem cell treatment and was preparing for a training camp for the White House card, only for negotiations to falter and UFC president Dana White to publicly downplay the discussions. Jones accused White of distorting the facts and requested his release, stating he is tired of what he perceives as bad-faith comments regarding his willingness to fight. White, for his part, insisted that Jones was “no way in hell” going to headline that event, and has repeatedly questioned his reliability when speaking to reporters.
Tom Aspinall’s defense of Jon Jones also stems from his own challenging history with the UFC, including past remarks where Dana White questioned his resolve to continue fighting after an injury. For Jones, the current impasse extends beyond a simple pay dispute; behind the scenes, he is reportedly furious about feeling belittled and “devalued” in public interviews, with White repeatedly casting doubt on his dependability.
Jones’ demand for release appears less like a pure negotiation ploy and more like a response to what he sees as a pattern of being undermined in front of fans and media, while a fellow heavyweight like Aspinall now finds himself navigating similar tensions with the promotion’s leadership.
For Aspinall, who has spent much of the past two years addressing questions about a potential fight with Jones, this latest dispute reinforces a long-standing debate about UFC economics. Ariel Helwani previously reported that Jones floated a $30 million figure for an Aspinall fight and argued on his show that such a sum would be “cheap” compared to what the UFC has paid McGregor and Khabib Nurmagomedov for mega-events.
Aspinall acknowledged that Jones, as a long-reigning champion and proven draw, is in a position to demand more than most, and stated that he “doesn’t blame” him for pushing for a larger payday late in his career.
These remarks carry particular weight at a time when Dana White’s Zuffa Boxing is reportedly paying eight-figure sums to attract fighters like British welterweight Conor Benn for single-fight deals, while UFC champions continue to argue that their pay lags behind their true value.
