Ex-UFC vet reacts to Jake Paul 'doing the math' for $50 million Jon Jones payday: "Most stopped reading after that"
A UFC veteran responded to Jake Paul's comments regarding how much UFC heavyweight champion Jon Jones should be paid to fight Tom Aspinall. Many fans have criticized Jones for refusing to fight the young and hungry interim title holder, Aspinall, unless he is offered what he calls "f* you money" for taking the risk.
In a recent social media post, Paul, a vocal critic of UFC's approach to fighter pay, suggested that the UFC might be hoping Aspinall can defeat Jones to create their next superstar. He also mentioned that he calculated $50 million as a reasonable amount for Jones to accept the fight:
"Did my math. Understand their hope to have Jon Jones lose so they can create the next man. So… Bones should be getting a $50M guarantee for that fight. And $10 for every PPV buy above 600K. If they offer that to Jon, it’s fair. He should take it."
@mmauncensored_ re-posted Paul's original X post on Instagram:
Ex-UFC fighter and MMA analyst Josh Thomson, who does not seem to believe in Paul's assessment, dismissed his claims in the comments section, writing:
"Who really believes “I did the math ?” Most stopped reading after that."
Josh Thomson on Jon Jones potentially fighting Tom Aspinall or Alex Pereira next - "How will he handle that?"
Jon Jones has expressed his desire to compete against fellow veteran fighters like UFC light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira, at this stage of his career. However, the MMA community has criticized the opinion.
On the 'Weighing In' podcast, Josh Thomson analyzed the possibility of either Pereira or Aspinall being Jones' next potential opponents and evaluated their chances against the UFC heavyweight champion:
"I want to see Jones fight someone that is a true threat to his legacy. And then, whatever happens... There's always going to be that person who's next, next! I don't believe that - Alex Pereira has got a puncher's chance, there' no doubt about that. But I don't think Alex is a true threat to him."
he added:
"The guys that Jones had a hard time with, are the guys that were physically his size. Now, Tom Aspinall is bigger than him. How will he handle that? He's sitting here, saying in the Dominick Reyes fight, 'Maybe this is not my day. Maybe I'm done. this young guy is coming up.' Tom Aspinall could be that guy."
Check out Josh Thomson's comments below (17:36):