While fans continue to be frustrated with Jon Jones, the UFC heavyweight champion appears to be enjoying his time away from the Octagon.
Tom Aspinall appears to be moving on from the Jones fight as he looks to continue with his career rather than waiting around for a matchup that might not happen.
Many of the fans have taken the interim champion’s side during this process, calling for the champion to be stripped of the title with Aspinall recently stating that Jones is already retired.
While others, including former UFC champion Michael Bisping, are optimistic that the fight will come together, Jones hasn’t given this impression.
A UFC legend, who previously faced the consensus greatest of all time inside the Octagon, believes that the heavyweight champion is making the most out of this scenario because it’s new to him.
Chael Sonnen says Jon Jones is relishing his opportunity to hold the important cards in potential Tom Aspinall matchup
Chael Sonnen believes that Jon Jones is enjoying the power that he currently holds in regards to the biggest fight that the UFC could book right now.
“If you give any human being power, it’s going to be very rare that they don’t wield it,” Sonnen told Bloody Elbow in an exclusive interview.
He stated that for all of Jones’ incredible accomplishments, he doesn’t think that ‘Bones’ has ever been a particularly big asset for the promotion in terms of the money he brings in.
‘The Bad Guy’ made reference to Max Kellerman’s prior comments about Mike Tyson and Oscar De La Hoya being the only two athletes who could draw entirely by themselves.
“I’m not actually insulting Jon, but it is a reality that Jon has never been good for business. Jon comes in. He takes a great big paycheck. They give it to him because they respect the work and how good he’s done. You can’t tell me of a ticket that you couldn’t get to a Jon Jones fight.
“You could walk up to the window the day of Jon’s fight, and you can buy tickets. He’s never sold out. He’s got no merchandise records. He’s got no PPV records. Now I only bring that to you because now he’s in a spot for that all to be different.”
Sonnen states that with this in mind, Jones is now in a position where he’s the party that has the ability to make or break this huge fight.
The UFC and Tom Aspinall have a lot to gain from the matchup, and the UFC Hall of Famer thinks that ‘Bones’ is relishing this opportunity to call the shots.
“For the first time ever, there was an opponent that people want to see Jon face and for the first time ever, there’s an opponent that might even be the betting favorite. For the first time ever, there’s a younger guy with just as shiny a belt that’s called interim who happens to be 30 pounds bigger than Jon, maybe even 40 pounds bigger than Jon.
“For the first time ever, people want Jon, and they can’t get this fight without Jon and it does seem as though he’s enjoying it.”
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Chael Sonnen believes that despite the ongoing saga, Jon Jones is waiting for the call
While Chael Sonnen believes that Jon Jones is finally in a position where he holds some very important cards, the UFC heavyweight champion’s former opponent thinks that ‘Bones’ will say yes when the time is right.
Contrary to how a lot of fans see it, Sonnen is confident that this isn’t a play by Jones to try and avoid this fight entirely.
“If I put myself in his shoes, he’s got the right to enjoy this moment, but I must defend him in one way. I don’t think that Jon is holding this fight up. I know he’s gone to the media and he’s talked crazy, 30 and $40 million, saying you want 30, pricing yourself out of a fight is the same thing as chickening out of a fight. But, I don’t believe that Jon’s actually done that.”
Sonnen stated that while Jones is clearly enjoying this ongoing back-and-forth, this will end in him returning to the Octagon to unify the heavyweight titles.
“I think he’s playing having some fun with the fans, and he’s waiting for that phone call to come. That’s what I believe.”