Jon Jones is prepared to continue his fight with the UFC in the long term.
In an appearance on “Wild Ride!” From Steve-O On Thursday, the UFC light heavyweight champion, who has been in a salary dispute with UFC president Dana White, says he won’t return to the octagon until he gets what he thinks is his fair share of the profits generated by their fights.
“I don’t want to fight soon,” said Jones. “I have no interest in fighting in the UFC until they pay me what I think I’m worth.”
But the fighter considered by many to be the best pound-for-pound competitor in mixed martial arts history says this is not just about him – he’s thinking of boys at the bottom of the pay scale.
While stars like Jones are believed to earn millions of dollars in undisclosed money above their fight records, which are public records, those at the bottom of the UFC list earn guaranteed money that barely covers expenses, vying for a promotion valued at $ 7 billion.
“I am not asking for anything outrageous, and I know we are in a pandemic, and I know that when you are a billionaire and you are asking for more, it makes you look like this greedy person,” Jones said. “I am very aware of all this, but I am also very aware that I have the voice and the platform to make the change.
“Most of the guys who are doing the worst are not in the position to be able to say publicly, ‘I have a second job, I’m borrowing money from my parents,'” Jones continued. “I know a lot of fighters who live in the Jackson Wink MMA gym because they can’t afford to have their own department, and they are UFC fighters. So this is sad. “
To that end, Jones, who turns 33 next month, says he is willing to wait as long as necessary to voice his point.
“If I have to have a bad relationship with Dana, spend two years, three years, to shed light on what’s happening, then these are the things people remind you of for more than just winning belts.” I defended the younger fighters. “
The public dispute between Jones and White began when Jones asked for better money for the challenge of taking on top heavyweight contender Francis Ngannou. The duo participated in a public chicken game, practically challenging each other to launch text messages that would explain exactly how much money Jones wanted, but neither side followed it.
Jones said he doesn’t want his relationship with White to be bitter, but that he is willing to bear the brunt of this confrontation.
“If you’ve come to a place of being personal, I’d rather work for a company where I feel like I went home,” Jones said. “I am at home when I go to work. I have a great relationship with the UFC staff, but it’s a weird feeling when you feel like they don’t want you there. ”
You can see Jones’s full appearance in “Wild Ride!” down
.
