Jon Anik believes Jon Jones will need a staggering amount of money to return to the Octagon after UFC 309.
Jon Jones defeated Stipe Miocic in his first UFC heavyweight title defense last Saturday at UFC 309. After nearly two full years since winning the then-vacant belt at UFC 285, Jones put together one of the most dominant performances of his career in his triumphant return .
Jones, who previously teased his retirement ahead of UFC 309, wants at least one more fight if he and the UFC can agree on a new contract. Interim UFC heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall is the most likely opponent, although Jones has also expressed a keen interest in facing Alex Pereira.
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Jones wants his 'f*** you money' to return to the Octagon with a new contract. UFC CEO Dana White remains optimistic that he and Jones can work out a new deal to pull off one of the biggest heavyweight fights.
Jon Anik is among the many top UFC personalities clamoring for the Jones vs. Aspinall fight to be booked in 2025. While he likely doesn't have any firsthand knowledge of how the Jones/UFC negotiations will go, he has an idea of what Jones will demand from the promotional brass.
Jon Anik: Jon Jones is 'absolutely worth' a $20-25 million contract offer
During a recent episode of The Anik & Florian Podcast, Anik predicted what the UFC will need to lure Jones back to the Octagon to fight Aspinall.
“I think it will happen. When you hear Jon Jones invoke the name Jake Paul, I think that tells you everything you need to know,” Anik said. “He only needs $20 to $25 million to show, and he's totally worth it, and I think they'll pay it.
“I can understand why Dana wouldn't necessarily want to make Jon Jones versus Alex Pereira, but sometimes I feel like Georges St-Pierre and Jon Jones are held to a different standard. A lot of people say, 'Jon Jones got a chance,' and if you look back at history, Jon Jones got a chance because his teammate Rashad Evans couldn't make the cut. Given the opportunity at 23, I think it's a bit of a stretch, or lazy, to say that Jon Jones should offer this opportunity.
In 2020, Jones asked for a similar amount to fight then-UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou, but the two sides could not agree. White compared Jones' desired salary to former heavyweight boxing champion Deontay Wilder.
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Jon Jones vs. Tom Aspinall could be at the top of the UFC's 2025 list
Before the win over Miocic, Jones defeated Ciryl Gane for the vacant heavyweight championship at UFC 285. His heavyweight debut came after three full years of rebuilding his body for a weight class move.
Aspinall seems optimistic about the upcoming negotiations, as he admitted immediately after UFC 309. He most recently defended the interim title against Curtis Blaydes at UFC 304.
Jones is arguably the greatest UFC fighter of all time after a storied career in the Octagon. He has dismantled legends like Daniel Cormier, Quinton 'Rampage' Jackson and Shogun Rua in his career.
13 years after becoming the youngest ever UFC champion, Jones is in for a huge reward to face Aspinall in 2025. While it is uncertain whether the UFC brass will award the amount Jones wants, Anik is confident that all parties will prevail at the negotiating table. .
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