Ariel Helwani: Jon Jones' alleged $30 million demand for Tom Aspinall fight is "cheap" compared to Conor McGregor or Khabib Nurmagomedov's UFC paydays

Ariel Helwani has chimed in on Jon Jones' alleged demand for $30 million to fight Tom Aspinall. Suggesting that the amount is lower than Jones' fellow UFC icons, Conor McGregor and Khabib Nurmagomedov's payouts, Helwani also asserted that the top heavyweight boxers are being paid more than 'Bones'.

On episode #2249 of his JRE (Joe Rogan Experience) podcast in December 2024, veteran UFC color commentator Joe Rogan discussed the speculation surrounding Jones supposedly demanding $30 million to fight longtime rival Aspinall. Moreover, Jones has been quite vocal that he'd like to be lucratively rewarded to face Aspinall.

During a Q&A segment on The Ariel Helwani Show (Jan. 8, 2025), veteran journalist Helwani was asked about Rogan's recent remarks, wherein the UFC commentator referenced the rumors of Jones' $30 million demand and suggested that the UFC would likely pay him that amount. Helwani responded by stating:

"I mean, Jones was asking for big bucks when, you know, he was trying to fight Francis Ngannou, when that was in the works. Do I know if it's exactly 30? No. Am I surprised by that number? No. If you compare it with what the top heavyweights are getting in boxing, that's actually quite cheap, to be honest."

Helwani speculated that if the UFC paid Jones $30 million and Aspinall $5 million, they'd still massively profit off the fight, with the gate revenues, the pay-per-view, and other elements. He then implied that McGregor, long beheld as the highest-paid fighter in MMA, and Nurmagomedov were paid a higher figure.

"It would be a big number. It wouldn't be the biggest number. Conor has made more. Khabib has made a lot of money as well. I don't know if it's quite 30."

Helwani indicated that not a lot of MMA fighters get paid figures in that ballpark, but many boxers, who are far less accomplished than Jones, receive such mammoth payouts:

"Jon deserves, in my opinion, more than 30 -- for this fight and for everything he's done in his career. Does he get it? I don't know. Should he get it? Yes."

Watch Helwani's assessment below:

Check out the podcast episode below (*Helwani's comments at 1:00:30):

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Jon Jones vs. Tom Aspinall: Daniel Cormier comments on potential 'Bones' payout

Jon Jones has consistently called for a fight against fellow combat sports megastar, UFC light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira. Meanwhile, Pereira has lobbied for a shot at Jones, the UFC heavyweight champion.

Tom Aspinall has held the interim UFC heavyweight title since November 2023. UFC CEO and president Dana White has asserted that Jones will fight Aspinall in 2025.

Jones' archrival, former two-division UFC champion Daniel Cormier, recently addressed the $30 million purse rumors. 'DC' recalled himself having been a part of high-profile UFC fights, adding that the aforementioned number is "a world away" from what he was paid.

Cormier explained that although fighter pay supposedly rose after he retired in 2020, it's not in the $30 million range. On his YouTube channel, He explained:

"But if you ask for 30 and you get 20 or you get 15, that's a win for Jon Jones on his way out."

Check out Cormier's comments below (1:45 and 4:50):