Jon Jones’ terms for a fight against Tom Aspinall, if accepted, will set a new milestone in UFC fighter pay history

Jon Jones demands $30 million for a fight against Tom Aspinall. Is the UFC going along with it?

According to UFC president Dana White, the fight between reigning heavyweight champion Jon Jones and interim titleholder Tom Aspinall must take place in 2025. The biggest obstacle right now is the amount of money Jon Jones is reportedly demanding, which is expected to be “astronomical.”

Recently, UFC commentator Joe Rogan revealed: “The rumor is that he (Jon Jones) wants 30 million dollars (USD). I hope the UFC will pay that amount.”

According to Dana White’s promotion, Jones vs. Aspinall is guaranteed to be “the biggest fight in light heavyweight history.” Indeed, with Jon Jones’ unparalleled achievements and Tom Aspinall’s immense potential, this could very well be a matchup that meets the expectations of both fans and Dana White.

Jones vs. Aspinall is clearly a fight that could attract any audience

So, what about the $30 million? Could the UFC accept this deal?

First, let’s revisit the information revealed in the UFC’s antitrust lawsuit in 2024. The documents from the lawsuit helped estimate the earnings of fighters before 2017.

For Jon Jones, when he was competing in the light heavyweight division, he earned between $1.1 million (UFC 165) and $3.6 million (UFC 182). These amounts did not include the share of revenue from pay-per-view (PPV) sales.

What’s notable here is the complex payment structure of the UFC. In addition to the fixed base salary per official fight contract, there are additional payments based on separate agreements—distinct from the main contract—and discretionary bonuses, often referred to as “locker room bonuses.”

Jon Jones has repeatedly demanded that his pay in the UFC be increased

Of course, the figures above are only references from the past. UFC’s payment structure is believed to have increased significantly in recent years. However, it’s important to clarify that base salaries rarely experience sudden spikes. The massive earnings of stars primarily come from pay-per-view (PPV) revenue.

Therefore, the rumored $30 million demand from Jon Jones is not entirely impossible. However, if this is a request for a base salary, it would indeed be a challenging task, even for the UFC.