ROLL UP FOR JONES v WHITE
Pair pulling no punches
IN JONES’ CORNER:
1
He is putting his long-term health in danger by moving up a weight and fighting big-hitting powerhouse Ngannou. With great risk must come great reward.
2
The 33-year-old has been a consistent PPV draw for more than a decade, his bouts averaging around 500,000 buys. A super fight should exceed a million.
3
With crowds returning at UFC 261 this month, a Jones v Ngannou clash later this year could generate a massive gate at an NFL stadium to offset costs.
4
While there are arguments for Khabib Nurmagomedov and Georges St-pierre, Jones, who has 26 wins – one disqualification loss and one no contest – is the GOAT in the UFC.
JONES SAID: “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 $2m per fight. I’m just trying to have my payday.” IN WHITE’S CORNER:
1
The UFC have backed Jones, and continued to pay him well, despite several failed drug tests and brushes with the law.
2
Jones has hardly set the world alight in his last three fights – all decision victories – and some feel his powers and popularity are on the wane.
3
Endeavour, who bought a majority share in the UFC in 2016, wants total ownership ahead of making it a publicly traded company. Seeing fighter pay go through the roof, if Jones sets a precedent, could affect the long-term health of the business.
4
Don’t sign the contract – x amount of fights for a certain base pay and then bonuses – if you don’t like the numbers on offer.
VERDICT: I don’t sign the cheques, so pay the man.