Jon Jones demands ‘f*** you money’ for Tom Aspinall fight after UFC 309, still insisting on Alex Pereira

Jon Jones returned at UFC 309 to defend his heavyweight title for the first time. It seemed he never left, and Jones dominated Stipe Miocic en route to a third-round knockout, answering plenty of questions about his abilities in his still-new division. The only answer the MMA world is still waiting for is whether he will end up fighting UFC interim champion Tom Aspinall in a unification bout.

The 37-year-old champion made it clear as soon as he won heavyweight gold against Ciryl Gane in early 2023 that Miocic was his big target and that there might not be another once that target was out of the way. However, Jones left the door open Saturday night after his victory at UFC 309, proclaiming that he’s not retiring just yet and if UFC negotiations go well, “maybe we’ll give you guys what you want to see.”

Aspinall has held interim gold for a full year in Jones’ absence, but has been relegated to the sidelines for UFC 309’s now-concluded legacy showdown. Jones (28-1, 1 NC) hasn’t sold the Brit at every turn, and despite his immediate post-fight comments seemingly signaling a change in that mindset, Jones reiterated late Saturday that Aspinall is not an option for him — unless the UFC really make it worthwhile.

“Just the little shit he does, he’s annoying to me,” Jones said of Aspinall at UFC 309’s post-fight press conference.

“I just don’t like him, and at the end of the day, if I give him the opportunity to fight me, I want so much compensation. I want to say this – I want your f*** money, frankly, and it just is what it is or I don’t need him at all and it’s a good place to be in a negotiation.

When asked what dollar figure that might mean, Jones’ answer was simple.

“I want to be compensated to the point where if I won or lost it really wouldn’t matter,” he said.

Since Jones’ crowning as heavyweight champion, Aspinall has won a trio of fights in 73 seconds or less. Meanwhile, a new legend emerged on Jones’ old stomping grounds at light heavyweight.

In 2024, Brazil’s Alex Pereira finally became the first light heavyweight champion since Jones vacated the belt in 2020 to defend the title more than once. Pereira had an absolutely fantastic year, winning three title defenses with highlight knockouts. Like Jones, Pereira stands as a two-division champion, all of which has intrigued the sport’s arguably greatest ever more than anything Aspinall has done.

“I’m not really worried about the Tom fight, I’m worried about the Pereira fight,” Jones said. “That’s what I want to do. I think if the UFC wants me back, I think that’s the fight they want to make. I’ve been really clear about my intentions. That’s it , I will.

“I just feel like somebody would understand at this point. I’ll retire the heavyweight belt if I have to. It’s like, dude, give the guy what he wants. I feel like I’m in a place now where I want to take what I think are superfights. I don’t want to fight established champions. So I don’t really worry about that. My body is no longer in belts, I have created something much bigger.

As interested as Jones is in a Pereira champion vs. champion superfight, the same cannot be said for UFC CEO Dana White. The UFC boss has repeatedly shot down the idea since it first arose. Even throughout the UFC 309 fight week, White maintained that Aspinall was rightfully awaiting Jones vs. The Miocic winner.

Jones’ stoppage of former two-time heavyweight champion Miocic at UFC 309 only dampened White’s desire to match two of his biggest stars.

“You know what tonight told me? There’s no fucking way I’m going to make the Pereira fight,” White said Saturday night. “Jon is too big, great wrestler – see how he took Stipe down in the first round? I like Alex Pereira. I like him personally. It just doesn’t make sense to do that fight.

“If they both want it bad enough and they’re both f***ing chasing me or something, I might do it. Alex Pereira is killing it. Look at his age and what he’s doing right now — what’s the reason to go up and fight a guy so much bigger than you and such a good wrestler to stay where he is and do what he does and run the streets.

“But again, if they go crazy on me and they want to do that, what am I going to do? They’re grown men and I’m sure the fans want to see that. I’m sure you want to see that, I think we’re talking about that.”

If the temporary crown atop Aspinall’s head wasn’t enough to support his place in the lineup, the big Englishman was also in attendance at UFC 309 as the main event’s back-up fighter.

In response to Jones’ request for a big payday, White noted that Jones would be compensated handsomely to clash with Aspinall in what could be a historic showdown.

“It doesn’t have the potential to, it’s going to be — it’s going to be the biggest heavyweight fight of all time,” White said. “It’s probably going to be the biggest game we’ve ever played.”