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Brett OkamotoESPN Staff Writer
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- MMA columnist for ESPN.com
- Analyst for “MMA Live”
- Covered MMA for Las Vegas Sun
An ongoing war of words between UFC president Dana White and light heavyweight champion Jon Jones continued Saturday, with White stating that Jones has “done a very good job of tarnishing” his own name, without any help from the company he fights for.
The two have been at odds for more than a week, following an unsuccessful round of negotiations for a potential heavyweight fight between Jones and Francis Ngannou.
Jones has adamantly denied White’s assertion he asked for a specific amount of money. In one social media post Friday night, Jones went so far as to suggest the UFC release him entirely if his reputation causes the promotion to “undervalue me this much.”
He reiterated that point in a tweet early Sunday morning.
You’re talking all that big guy stuff about not caring, put your money where your mouth is and release me from that contract
— Jon Bones Jones (@JonnyBones) May 31, 2020
“He can do whatever he wants,” White said during a UFC news conference Saturday. “He wants to sit out, fight, he can do whatever. He can say whatever he wants publicly. It’s his God-given right in America. He can say whatever he wants. When he’s ready to come back, he can.
“In one of his tweets, he said I tarnished his name. I tarnished you? You’ve done a very good job of tarnishing you.”
White was, presumably, referring to Jones’ checkered legal history. Jones has been arrested multiple times during his UFC career, on charges ranging from felony hit-and-run to DWI. He pleaded guilty to a DWI charge in his home state of New Mexico in March.
Jones, 32, revealed the negotiations via social media on May 21, claiming the UFC immediately informed him he wouldn’t make any additional money to move up a weight class. This past week, White told ESPN that Jones asked for an “absurd amount of money,” comparable to heavyweight boxer Deontay Wilder’s recent purses.
“Don’t be a f—ing liar,” Jones wrote on Twitter on Friday. “My reputation has already taking enough hits. I don’t need this bulls— Dana. I never asked for [Deontay Wilder] numbers. And how about since [Wilder] is making $30 million, we settle for half of that. Since you said I’m the [greatest of all time] and everything.”
White has repeatedly claimed that Jones is the greatest MMA fighter of all time, while adding he believes Jones could have accomplished much more were it not for his issues outside of the cage.
On Saturday, White said he is ready for Jones to defend his 205-pound title whenever he wants, but he balked at Jones’ alleged financial demands.
“Being the greatest of all time doesn’t mean you get $30 million. It’s being able to sell,” White said, adding that the UFC walked Jones through the recent numbers on his fights. “[Jones] said, ‘I don’t give a f— what the numbers are. I want what I want.’
“That’s not how life works.”
After hearing White’s comments, Jones went on Twitter to explain his side of things.
At no point did I ever demand anything from you Dana, I simply asked for a Super fight and asked to be compensated for it. You are the one who started talking negotiations publicly and showing the world how much you’ve been withholding from your athletes this whole time
— Jon Bones Jones (@JonnyBones) May 31, 2020
Hunter and I had a very respectful conversation, I love how you’re trying to paint this picture of me being some angry guy disrespectfully demanding money. And then bringing up my out of the cage affairs to justify under paying me by tens of millions for years
— Jon Bones Jones (@JonnyBones) May 31, 2020
Jones (26-1-0) last fought on Feb. 8 when he successfully defended his light heavyweight title with a unanimous decision win over Dominick Reyes (12-1-0) at UFC 247.
