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Jon Jones takes aim and fires
Jon Jones has been launching zingers and barbs in Francis Ngannou’s direction over the last two days, completely forgetting his own longstanding issues with the promotion he’s spent the last 14 years under. Ever since Ngannou announced his historic deal with the PFL, Jones has been giving off a sour grapes vibe. From his first response where he quipped,
“Calling yourself the baddest man on the planet from across the street, who does that? Lol”
To his latest response where he bombed a video interview Alex Behunin was doing with Maurice Greene, seen in the embedded tweet below. This time he went in with more vitriol, calling Ngannou a “p*ssy” as he and Greene laughed.
He must’ve forgot
The very reason Jones sat out for three-plus years was over money. He even made his own calls for better purses for himself and Francis, noting that “$8M – $10M is way too low” for a fight with Ngannou. He would continue adding to the tweet storm that day, following with this,
“I’m supposed to be waiting for what their offer is going to be. Really hoping the numbers are nowhere near that low. I guess we will see what happens”
Jon Jones was not finished, though, continuing on,
“I’ve been working my ass off for years, concussions, surgeries, fighting the Toughest competition UFC had to offer throughout my 20s for right around 2 million per fight. I’m just trying to have my payday, the fight that all of us fighters Believe is one day possible.”
“I tweeted show me the money and that evidently pissed off the boss. What a learning lesson. I feel like if Connor would’ve sent that same tweet there would have been whiskey night.”
He even went so far as to demand his release in a sizzling series of tweets, calling Dana White a “f*cking liar” after White said in an interview that Jones was requesting “absurd money” in the neighborhood of $30M per fight. Jonny’s rant was as close to scorched earth as it gets.
“Don’t be a fucking liar, my reputation has already taking enough hits. I don’t need this bullshit Dana. I never asked for Diante Wilder‘s numbers. And how about since Diante is making 30 million, we settle for half of that. Since you said I’m the goat and everything.”
“I don’t even make half of half of what Diante Wilder makes. If my reputation causes you to undervalue me this much. Just go ahead and release me from my @Ufc contract altogether. I’m sure some promoter somewhere will be more than happy to pick me up.”
What did he get for his troubles?
It boggles the mind how Jon Jones could be so acrimonious towards Ngannou when he had the same opportunity to make history. Jonny made history, but only within the confines of the UFC. He had to sign an 8-fight deal. He doesn’t get to box (at least without co-promotion from UFC). There is a champion’s clause and other insanely restrictive clauses that could allow for the UFC to dip into any moneymaking projects he may dive into.
Jones’ old contract would have been up in 2024. Francis doesn’t plan on having his first MMA bout with PFL until 2024. Imagine if they’d both gone into free agency. It would have been the best thing in the world for the sport. Instead, Francis Ngannou laid out a blueprint and has become the trailblazer that others may follow and Jon Jones imprisoned himself with another ironclad contract.
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