UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones and UFC have been at odds with each other. Jones wants to be fairly compensated for fighting inside the cage.
It all started after the UFC declined to give Jon Jones a significant bump in pay to fight top light heavyweight contender Francis Ngannou. Following which the fighter had a falling out with the organization.
UFC president Dana White has said that Jon Jones was asking for ‘Deontay Wilder like money’ to fight inside the cage and Jones has refuted the claims saying that he hasn’t made anywhere close to that in his entire career.
Everything was good until I asked for a piece of the pie.. ufc totally comfortable with me taking concussions for over a decade but asking for generational wealth. Get the fuck out of here.
— BONY (@JonnyBones) June 8, 2020
“Everything was good until I asked for a piece of the pie,” Jones wrote on Twitter. “UFC totally comfortable with me taking concussions for over a decade but asking for generational wealth. Get the f**k out of here.” Jones said.
Do you not listen to Dana? Almost every interview he mentions how the UFC are breaking new records and are at an all-time high. Dana mentioned I want Wilder money, meanwhile over the entirety of my career I haven’t even made a quarter of that. https://t.co/Vtrf2UsNd1
— BONY (@JonnyBones) June 8, 2020
“Do you not listen to Dana? Almost every interview he mentions how the UFC are breaking new records and are at an all time high. Dana mentioned I want [Deontay] Wilder money. Meanwhile, over the entirety of my career, I haven’t even made a quarter of that.” Jones tweeted.
Jon Jones says UFC made millions without him knowing
Jon Jones then further stated that UFC has been underpaying him for a long time. Even when he joined the promotion as a young fighter and became the youngest UFC champion at just the age of 23 by knocking out Mauricio Rua at UFC 128, the promotion told him that he wasn’t a big enough star yet to get paid more.
When I was in my prime, the Ufc‘s way of not paying me was telling me I wasn’t a star. Had me grateful for a new car meanwhile making tens of millions without my knowing.
— BONY (@JonnyBones) June 8, 2020
Impressed a young kid with a Bentley to fight Lyoto Machida while they collected millions
— BONY (@JonnyBones) June 8, 2020
I’m not even asking for backpay for ripping me off throughout my entire 20s. Just wanted to be treated fair moving forward
— BONY (@JonnyBones) June 8, 2020
“When I was in my prime, the UFC’s way of not paying me was telling me I wasn’t a star,” Jones said. “Had me grateful for a new car meanwhile making tens of millions without my knowing. Impressed a young kid with a Bentley to fight Lyoto Machida while they collected millions.
“I’m not even asking for back pay for ripping me off throughout my entire 20’s. Just wanted to be treated fair moving forward.”
Jon Jones has advice for young fighters
Jon Jones then fired another series of tweets where he advised young and upcoming fighters to know their worth and get paid accordingly.
Advice while you Young fighters, if you’re hot right now. Get paid. As much as the Ufc is building your brand, you are building their’s. If you think your biggest paydays will come after being with the company for a while. You are wrong.
— BONY (@JonnyBones) June 8, 2020
“Advice to you young fighters if you’re hot right now, get paid,” Jones said. “As much as the UFC is building your brand, you are building theirs. If you think your biggest paydays will come after being with the company for a while, you are wrong.
I fought mega fight after mega fight throughout my early 20s for under 2million a fight. Who knows what I’m actually owed, makes me feel like a fool even thinking about it
— BONY (@JonnyBones) June 8, 2020
This statement isnt entirely true, it was right around 2million a fight. Not fair to say it was under, still robbery https://t.co/WRCZtkx5mf
— BONY (@JonnyBones) June 8, 2020
“I fought mega fight after mega fight throughout my early 20’s for under $2 million a fight. Who knows what I’m actually owed. Makes me feel like a fool even thinking about it. This statement isn’t entirely true. It was right around $2 million a fight. Not fair to say it was under, still robbery.”
Jon Jones then stated that he wants the UFC to share a higher percentage of revenue with the athletes.
Just to be treated fair man. For all of us fighters to finally start getting a higher percentage. No one’s asking to break the bank, just show your athletes you don’t think we are all idiots. https://t.co/0Pgi8B1NmN
— BONY (@JonnyBones) June 8, 2020
“Just to be treated fair man. For all of us fighters to finally start getting a higher percentage. No one’s asking to break the bank, just show your athletes you don’t think we are all idiots,” Jones stated.
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