Daniel Cormier believes Jon Jones may have to accept less than his desired $30 million for a fight against Tom Aspinall, despite public negotiations and comparisons to Conor McGregor‘s earning power, as Jones seeks to leverage his status and generate interest in the potential matchup.
Daniel Cormier thinks Jon Jones might need to accept less money than he wants for a fight with Tom Aspinall. The rumors about a Jones vs. Aspinall match have been swirling for over a year. With Jones as the UFC heavyweight champ and Aspinall holding the interim title, it’s a tense situation. This all kicked off in November 2023 when Aspinall was set to face Sergei Pavlovich for the interim belt at UFC 295 after an injury delayed Jones vs. Stipe Miocic, which eventually happened at UFC 309.
Negotiations between Jones and Aspinall have been public and intense. Jones has made it clear he wants “f*ck you money” to fight Aspinall, even though he dismisses him as a serious contender despite Aspinall’s impressive 8-1 UFC record. Joe Rogan mentioned on his podcast that Jones is asking for $30 million to fight Aspinall, a claim Cormier discussed recently.
Cormier noted the $16 million gate at Madison Square Garden for UFC 309 as a reason behind Jones’ demand, even if he believes the actual payout might be lower. “When you look at it like that,” Cormier said on YouTube, “his ask isn’t as outrageous as some think.” With revenue from pay-per-view and sponsorships, it’s not entirely unreasonable.
Rogan speculates the UFC might fork out the $30 million to get Jones in the ring with Aspinall. Cormier isn’t convinced but suggests that even if Jones gets $15 or $20 million, it’s still a win for him—especially since he lives in Albuquerque, where costs are low compared to places like California.
Cormier compared Jones to Conor McGregor to illustrate the difference in box office appeal. While Jones might be one of the greatest fighters ever, McGregor’s drawing power is unmatched; he’s headlined some of the biggest pay-per-views in history.
“Conor comes back and asks for $30 million, and the UFC considers it,” Cormier said. “Why? Because when Conor fought during International Fight Week, the gate was $22 million.” It’s sustainable business. Can Jones pull those numbers? Cormier doubts it.
Despite this, Cormier believes Jones will eventually agree to fight Aspinall. Jones’ reluctance to acknowledge Aspinall has only fueled interest in their potential showdown. Fans are eager to see if Jones can solidify his status or if Aspinall will hand him his first true defeat.
Cormier credits Jones for playing the long game effectively. By saying “I ain’t doing it,” he piqued fans’ interest. When fans want something badly enough, the UFC tends to make it happen. Will they pay $30 million? Maybe not, but they’ll likely entertain discussions.
For all his criticisms of Jones over time, Cormier admits his strategy is smart—especially if he wins against Aspinall. Imagine what happens if Jon beats Tom after everyone thought Tom could dethrone him. The negotiating power would be immense.
In his prime, Cormier was also a dual champion but never asked for what Jones reportedly wants now. Even with fighter pay increasing since his days competing, he expects Jones will need to hustle hard for an eight-figure payday.
“I’ve been involved in big fights and sold pay-per-views,” Cormier said. “But $30 million was beyond anything we made.” He recalled getting a substantial bump for taking a short-notice fight in New York—impressive then but nothing close to what Jones seeks now.