Veteran UFC fighter Jon Jones is expected to face Francis Ngannou later this year and he seems to have only one condition, a hefty paycheck. This could be one of the biggest fights of the year and many fighters as well as fans have expressed their opinions on the mega-event.
But, Daniel Cormier, fighter-turned-commentator sure had something to say about Jones’ pay issue. While speaking on the ‘DC and Helwani’ podcast, he offered his view on why Jones shouldn’t expect a paycheck like that of Conor McGregor.
Cormier said, “Does Jon Jones make what Khabib makes? If Khabib makes $8 million to $10 million, yes. But I don’t believe he should make what Conor McGregor makes.
“I do believe that Conor McGregor, there should be a difference in the pay scale because of what he has meant to the company.”
Cormier was of the view that anything between $8 million to $10 million was justifiable. He said, “But in the $8 million to $10 million range? I think that works. I believe with 100% certainty, (the UFC) would give (Jones) $10 million to show up and fight Francis Ngannou.”
Cormier further commented that, “I believe that. And that’s him getting his money. Because he’s never made $10 million before to show. He said he makes $5 million, right?
“So if he makes $5 million, then you’re doubling what he makes to go and fight Francis,” he stated.
However, Jon Jones does not agree with ‘DC’. He took to Twitter to state that a sum between $8 million to $10 million was way too low for a fight of this magnitude.
I had a brief phone meeting with UFC‘s lawyer Hunter a few days ago. As of right now I expressed to him that anywhere around eight to $10 million would be way too low for a fight of this magnitude. That’s all that has been discussed so far.
— BONY (@JonnyBones) March 31, 2021
‘Bones’ had made a compromise with his Light Heavyweight title in order to pursue his dream of becoming a Heavyweight champion.
But his demand for a hefty paycheck is certainly clashing with his own dream. With UFC now clearly favouring a scrap between Ngannou and Derrick Lewis, things seem to be going downhill for Jones.
It will be interesting to see how the events unfold between the UFC and Bones.
Read more: “A gameplan”: Georges St-Pierre reveals personal strategy to beat Khabib Nurmagomedov