Dana White ready to pay Jon Jones for Tom Aspinall fight

Zane Simon

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Publish Date: 11/18/2024

Entering UFC 309, Dana White was certain of one thing: Jon Jones wouldn't retire.

The UFC CEO made it clear to reporters that he believed Jones' competitive nature wouldn't let him walk away from MMA. It seems he was right. Following his victory over Stipe Miocic, Jones told the MSG audience that he felt he still had more fights left in him.

"As far as my future in the Octagon," Jones responded when asked by Rogan about his plans, "I decided that maybe I will not retire. And that I have some conversations to have with Dana [White] and Hunter [Campbell]. We have some negotiating to do. And if everything goes right we'll give you guys what you want to see."

Jon Jones Octagon Interview | UFC 309

Jon Jones backs off from Aspinall

If that sounded like a potential path for Jon Jones to fight Tom Aspinall, the champ was quick to close that door. Speaking to media backstage after the fight, Jones made it clear that he had no intention of taking a fight with the interim UFC champion.

“I’m not really worried about the Tom fight. I’m worried about the Pereira fight,” Jones admitted (transcript via MMA Junkie). “That’s what I want to do. I think if the UFC wants to have me back, then I think that’s the fight they’ll make. I’ve been really clear about my intentions. That’s what I want.

“I just feel like anybody would understand at this point. I’ll retire the heavyweight belt if I have to. … Tom can have the heavyweight championship. I don’t really care about it.”

Dana White ready to pay for Aspinall, dismisses Pereira

Jon Jones may be setting the table for a future fight with Alex Pereira, but Dana White isn't having it. At his own post-UFC 309 press conference White was quick to reassure fans that the promotion would be bringing the kind of money to the table that Jones needed to take a fight with his 31-year-old title challenger.

"He will be!" White insisted when asked about Jones wanting to "get paid" for fighting Aspinall (transcript via MMA Mania). "I got Tom waiting outside for me right now. Listen, you let Jon do Jon. Jon's going to disappear. Not only will you not hear about him or what he's doing, neither will I. And then he will resurface, and he'll call, and we'll get it done."

As for Jones' big idea about fighting light heavyweight champ 'Po Atan'? It sounds like the UFC boss has no interest in making that fight whatsoever.

"No," White sated flatly when asked about making Jones vs. Pereira. "You know what tonight told me? There's no fucking way I make the Pereira fight. Jon's too big, great wrestler. See how he took Stipe down in that first round? I like Alex Pereira, I like him personally. It just doesn't make sense to make that fight.

"If they both want it bad enough and they're both fucking hounding me, or something, maybe I would do it. It's just, Alex Pereira is killing it. Look at his age and what he's doing right now, what's the reason to go up and fight a guy that's so much bigger than you and such a good wrestler?"