Joe Rogan has recently clarified his earlier statement about Jon Jones potentially earning $30 million for his next UFC title defense. The renowned commentator mentioned during a recent podcast episode that he had heard a rumor regarding Jones receiving such a significant payout to fight interim champion Tom Aspinall. Rogan also indicated that there was talk of the UFC potentially agreeing to this matchup.
However, after receiving a call from Dana White this week, Rogan has withdrawn his previous claim. He has since stated that Jones is contemplating retirement, although there remains the possibility of a comeback following an extended absence from the sport.
In last week’s episode, Joe Rogan made headlines by discussing the rumored hefty purse for Jon Jones’ next fight with comedians Yannis Papis and Chris DiStefano. He asserted that Jones was seeking $30 million and suggested that the UFC might be willing to accommodate that demand.
This information rapidly circulated, though many questioned its credibility, as the UFC rarely offers payouts of such magnitude, with Conor McGregor being one of the few exceptions. The reported figure would far exceed any amount Jones had previously earned in his fighting career.
When questioned by comedian Theo Von about the reliability of news sources in his latest podcast episode, Rogan candidly responded, “not from me,” and made it a point to retract his earlier assertion regarding Jones’ financial expectations. He explained, “I have to correct something because there was a conversation I had with Yannis Pappis and Chris DiStefano.”
Rogan added that he had heard a rumor about Jones requesting $30 million to face Tom Aspinall and that, at the time, it seemed credible. However, he later received clarification from Dana White, who dismissed the rumor as false. Rogan felt it was important to inform his audience that the claim was inaccurate, acknowledging his inability to recall the source of that rumor.
When asked about the amount he believes Jones might consider for the Aspinall fight, Rogan revealed, “Well, apparently Jon is thinking about retiring, and he should. I mean, he’s going to have to someday.” He emphasized that Jones deserves as much time as he needs and should be free to fight whenever he decides.
Rogan expressed admiration for Jones, labeling him as the “GOAT” (Greatest of All Time), and stressed the importance of giving him the space to make his own decisions regarding his career. He raised the question of how long Jones can retain his heavyweight title should he choose to step away from competition.
He acknowledged that after Jones’ recent victory over Stipe Miocic, he should be given months to decide his next steps. However, at some point, there must be clarity on who will hold the heavyweight championship.
Rogan concluded by noting that if Jones indeed opts not to continue fighting, he could still return later on. He pointed out that Jones might decide he has had a fulfilling career, with no official losses aside from a disqualification that has since been amended in the rules. He noted that Jones has financial security and potential opportunities in acting should he choose to retire from fighting.
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