TLDR
- Jon Jones turned down $30 million to fight Tom Aspinall, choosing retirement over defending his heavyweight title
- Jones has re-entered UFC drug testing pool and wants to fight light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira instead
- Jones says his decision is based on legacy, claiming Pereira will be remembered longer than Aspinall
- UFC President Dana White offered Jones the biggest payday in UFC history to fight Aspinall
- Jones believes Aspinall won’t be relevant in a few years, pointing to his recent close fight with Ciryl Gane
Jon Jones Reveals Legacy Motivated His Decision to Reject Record UFC Payday
Jon Jones has confirmed he turned down a $30 million offer to fight Tom Aspinall. The former heavyweight champion chose retirement instead of unifying the title with the interim champion.
The decision came after months of speculation about the matchup. Aspinall had been waiting for his title shot for 19 months before Jones made his choice.
UFC President Dana White tried everything to make the fight happen. The $30 million offer would have been the largest payday in UFC history for any fighter.
Jones spoke about his decision on the Geoffery Woo podcast. He said most fighters wouldn’t turn down that kind of money.
“My goals are different from other people’s these days,” Jones explained. He said his motivation focuses on legacy rather than financial gain.
The MMA veteran believes fighting Aspinall wouldn’t add to his long-term legacy. He thinks Aspinall won’t be remembered in the sport years from now.
Why Jones Wants Pereira Instead
Jones has his sights set on Alex Pereira instead. The Brazilian fighter currently holds the UFC light heavyweight championship.
Jones praised Pereira’s global appeal and staying power. He pointed to Pereira’s popularity in Brazil and worldwide recognition.
“Pereira is an absolute idol right now in Brazil,” Jones said. He mentioned how fans chant “Chama” without even knowing what it means.
Jones believes Pereira has an “it” factor that translates to lasting fame. He thinks the brand Pereira represents will be remembered beyond five years.
The comparison between the two potential opponents was direct. Jones referenced Aspinall’s recent fight with Ciryl Gane in October.
That fight ended controversially in the first round. Aspinall couldn’t continue after eye pokes from Gane left him with vision problems.
Jones Plans Comeback
Jones has re-entered the UFC drug testing pool after his retirement announcement. He wants to return for a fight at the White House card in June.
White has pushed back against Jones’ comeback plans. The UFC president has expressed concerns about Jones’ reliability.
Jones continues to campaign for the Pereira fight despite White’s hesitation. He believes this matchup serves his legacy goals better than fighting Aspinall.
“I feel like Pereira, fighting a guy like that, it would just bring so much more to the table for me,” Jones stated. He thinks the energy and brand behind Pereira makes for a better career move.
Jones acknowledged that his motivations differ from traditional fighters. He said legacy considerations outweigh financial rewards at this stage of his career.
Aspinall was last reported to have complete blindness in his right eye three days after his fight with Gane. He had 50 percent vision in his left eye at that time.
