Daniel Cormier Casts Doubt on UFC Paying $30M for Jon Jones vs. Tom Aspinall

Former UFC dual-champion and current commentator Daniel Cormier recently weighed in on the rumors of Jon Jones demanding $30 million to face interim champion Tom Aspinall in a title-unification bout. Scheduled for 2025, this highly anticipated fight has generated plenty of buzz, but Cormier expressed doubts about the UFC agreeing to such a hefty paycheck.

On his YouTube channel, Cormier reflected on his own experience as a top-tier UFC athlete. “As someone who’s been at the pinnacle of UFC pay scales, $30 million was not even in the realm of possibility,” he explained. While acknowledging that fighters like Jones, Israel Adesanya, and Stipe Miocic have pushed the boundaries of fighter pay, Cormier believes it’s unlikely Jones will get the full $30 million he’s reportedly asking for.

UFC commentator Joe Rogan, who first revealed Jones' rumored demand on his podcast, speculated that the UFC may be willing to meet this figure to ensure a blockbuster event. However, Cormier predicts a compromise: “If you ask for 30 and settle for 15 or 20, that’s still a major win for Jones.”

With Jones boasting an impressive record of 28-1 MMA and 22-1 UFC, his status as a pay-per-view star is undeniable. Aspinall, meanwhile, has risen rapidly in the heavyweight ranks with a stellar 15-3 MMA and 8-1 UFC record. Their clash promises to be a historic moment in the UFC, unifying the heavyweight division and potentially reshaping the sport’s financial landscape.

While the UFC has not confirmed Jones' payday or the exact terms of the bout, the stakes for both fighters remain high. For Jones, this fight could serve as a career-defining moment; for Aspinall, it’s an opportunity to establish himself as the undisputed heavyweight champion.