UFC CEO Dana White will overtly admit to 2 main failures in his profession: One is just not reaching a deal to signal Fedor Emelianenko, and the opposite is just not making Jones vs. Francis Ngannou.
There seems to be a major threat of one other combat becoming a member of that record if Jones vs. Tom Aspinall for the unified heavyweight championship doesn’t get finished.
White expressed confidence he would be capable to come to phrases with Jones to combat Aspinall, regardless of “Bones” repeatedly stating he has no need to do this matchup and would reasonably face Alex Pereira in a possible retirement bout. Nevertheless, that was earlier than Jones mentioned he wished “f*ck you cash.”
What does that quantity truly appear like? It’s onerous to know for certain. Jones mentioned he’s realized to not put figures out to the general public after his previous experiences in UFC negotiations, but it surely’s onerous to neglect the alleged $30 million price ticket he requested to do the Ngannou combat a number of years in the past.
That clearly by no means occurred, and as a lot as some folks at UFC will attempt to paint the narrative it was Ngannou who bailed on the combat – anybody who adopted the timeline carefully is aware of that Jones had loads of culpability in that state of affairs, as nicely.
However that’s the previous, and that is the longer term. There’s an opportunity for Jones and the UFC to redeem itself right here. If Jones vs. Aspinall is really the most important heavyweight combat in firm historical past “by an extended shot,” as White claimed post-fight, then no expense needs to be spared.
It’s comprehensible why, at this stage of his profession, Jones needs the chance to be well worth the reward. He may not be verbalizing it in a means that’s interesting to everybody, however I’m not going to rake Jones over the coals for standing up for himself and what he believes is finest within the twilight of his preventing days. Furthermore, we all know the UFC can afford primarily no matter price Jones calls for, and the promotional upside if Aspinall wins could be well worth the funding.
It’s going to be an enchanting recreation to see unfold within the coming weeks and months. The UFC has missed the boat on some defining heavyweight fights previously, and it could be a damning second if this one escapes us, too.
For extra on the cardboard, go to MMA Junkie’s occasion hub for UFC 309.
