UFC heavyweight champion Jon Jones is getting support from an unlikely place: YouTuber-turned boxer Jake Paul.
Paul built his combat sports reputation up by beating over-the-hill UFC fighters and antagonizing Dana White every chance he could get. Jones and White are firmly on the same team right now as the UFC CEO defends a decision to have “Bones” face Stipe Miocic next instead of interim champ Tom Aspinall. So we shouldn’t be surprised that “The Problem Child” (who would prefer you call him “El Gallo” these days) is trying to drive a wedge between them.
And how is he doing it? By challenging the UFC to pay Jones what he’s worth to stick around for Aspinall.
@JonnyBones
— Jake Paul (@jakepaul) August 29, 2024
Deontay Wilder money, and the last time White suspected Jones was aiming for that it resulted in negotiations so acrimonious that Jon relinquished the light heavyweight title and sat out for three years.
The funny thing is Jones claims he never asked for that much, he just wanted the UFC to re-negotiate his pay for a move up to heavyweight. But the UFC is so focused on maintaining an iron grip on fighter pay that they let Jones bench himself rather than even discuss a raise. Helluva way to treat the greatest of all time.
That was in 2020, which feels like a long ago right now. These days Jones and White are on the best of terms, with Dana declaring Jon the undisputed GOAT and pound-for-pound No. 1 fighter in the UFC. Jones returned the favor, dubbing White the GOAT of business.
https://t.co/BVoWCXaCJE
— BONY (@JonnyBones) August 30, 2024
