Jon Jones has revealed he turned down $30million (£23million) to fight Tom Aspinall.
Jones suddenly retired amid talk that he might fight Britain’s Aspinall in defense of his UFC Heavyweight Championship.
Aspinall had become frustrated and inactive while Jones was rumored to have turned down a huge payday to accept the fight.
Jones has confirmed for the first time that he has rejected the fate of fighting Aspinall – and explained why.
“My goals are no longer traditional,” he told the Geoffrey Wu podcast.
“Most fighters wouldn’t turn down $30 million, they just wouldn’t do it. These days my goals are different.
“The White House would be something for my personal list.”
But UFC CEO Dana White has insisted that Jones will not be part of the company’s plans for a massive fight card at the White House next year.
Jon Jones criticizes Tom Aspinall: ‘It was his way’
Aspinall was promoted from interim to full UFC Heavyweight Champion after the Jones fight fell through.
But his defense against Cyril Gane, his first fight in 14 months, ended inside a round without a contest when Aspinall was unable to continue after an accidental eye poke.
But Jones has seen a weakness in his opponent.
“What I saw with Tom was that he took losses in the middle of his career,” Jones said.
“He started fighting at a young age but later faced defeat.
“When I was 23 I was fighting the top guys in the world. I’m watching Tom at the same age get abused by guys no one’s heard of. That alone shows me more about what’s behind the mask of the Aspinall character. I saw him tap out twice.”
Jones addressed Aspinall’s loss to Curtis Blaydes in 2022, when his knee was badly damaged: “I would expect a fighter who blew out his knee to, at the very least, try to stand back up, try to walk on it. Tom was completely out of the fight.
“He got hit in the eye (against Gane). The doctor initially (said) ‘He looks fine’ but Tom said ‘I can’t see.’
“Tom knew he had been fouled and this was his way out.
“If we still fight, that would be awesome. If not? I don’t think I need that, especially after his last performance.”
“Just because something is new and exciting doesn’t mean it’s going to replace what’s already here.”
Jon Jones wants to fight Alex Pereira
Brazilian fighter Pereira recently won a rematch against Magomed Ankalev to regain the UFC Light-Heavyweight Championship, the belt once held by Jones.
Jones said of Pereira: “He’s got the ‘it’ factor, he’s blessed. It can’t be taught, no preacher can show you that.
“There are certain things about some people that make people want to pay attention to them.
“He just says ‘chama’ and people (cheer). He has the ‘it’ factor and that’s why I want to compete against Perera.
“Their brand and the energy behind it will be remembered more than five years from now.
“Pereira, fighting a guy like that, brings more things to me.
“How cool would that be? Just to be part of the White House card.”
Jon Jones explains strategy to defeat Alex Pereira and Tom Aspinall
Jones says a similar game-plan will be enough to defeat Pereira or Aspinall.
“I have to be smart with Perera,” he said. “The biggest difference between Pereira and Aspinall is the level of footage I have. Pereira posts everything, I have a kickboxing career to study, a very good resume in MMA to look at.
“Pereyra is stuck in a certain way of fighting. There are tendencies in his combinations, his defense, and it will be my job to find holes inside those tendencies. I think I can do that.
“One of the things people underestimate about our wrestling is my physical strength. I don’t always look like the strongest guy, I’m not very strong. But everyone who wrestles me says the same thing: ‘He’s stronger than he looks.’
“Where he punches hard and kicks hard, my grappling strength and intelligence will come in handy to handle him.
“I think it will be the same scenario for Espinal.
“The UK wrestling system is not as good as people say. I think their jiu-jitsu program is not as good as people say.
“Tom is physically bigger, maybe I have to put in more effort, but if I ground Tom it will be the same story as if I ground Perera.
“To me, it’s the same fight. They’re both strong on their feet, and they both have flaws in the wrestling department.
“It’s about legacy, who will make more sense? Do you fight the guy who is influential now, but who no one will care about years from now? Or the guy who will be remembered around the world for a very long time?”
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