New UFC interim belt, Jon Jones gets $30 million, Amanda Nunes will be back: MMA Rumor Roundup

A current UFC champion's injury may see another interim title fight in the coming days. Elsewhere, Jon Jones is reportedly asking for a whopping $30 million to fight Tom Aspinall.

Here are this week's top combat sports rumors presented by Sportskeeda MMA.

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Julianna Pena's injury could mean UFC women's bantamweight interim belt

Kayla Harrison's manager Ali Abdelaziz told MMA Junkie that Julianna Pena's "health problems" have caused a hiccup in the timeline for the potential title fight. The champion's alleged absence would call for an interim belt instead.

Abdelaziz said:

"This is what I have been told: Julianna Peña, if she’s not ready to fight Kayla, she might have some health problems – it’s going to be an interim title. ... I don’t think any division should be held because someone is injured."

Top contender Norma Dumont, who's on a five-fight winning streak, has already called for a shot at the interim title fight against Harrison.

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Joe Rogan: Jon Jones wants $30M to fight Tom Aspinall

Joe Rogan has heard that Jon Jones is demanding $30 million "f*ck you money" to fight Tom Aspinall for the undisputed UFC heavyweight belt. He told The Joe Rogan Experience guests Yannis Pappas and Chris DiStefano on the Dec. 31 episode that the UFC is close to sealing the deal as well:

"I think it's going to be [Tom] Aspinall. I think they're trying to come to some sort of an agreement. The rumor is that he wants $30 million and UFC is going to pay it. Hopefully."

Rogan seemed skeptical about Jones potentially fighting Alex Pereira instead, which is what 'Bones' has been saying he wants; he added that if the contest has to take place, it should happen soon.

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Conor McGregor vs. Logan Paul rumored for April

Misfits Boxing presenter Biel has claimed in a YouTube update that the much-talked-about Ambani family-backed Conor McGregor vs. Logan Paul fight in India is targeted for April 2025.

"There are deep negotiations for the fight. Conor is interested [and] so is Logan. They are targeting April of next year. The UFC is involved and in talks. It is all moving in the right direction, claiming it is 80% likely to happen."

The fight is supposed to have a purse of $250 million for McGregor and Paul each, a rumor that has been teased by the Irishman himself.

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GFL could be faking their monetary promises

Global Fight League or GFL, the new MMA promotion on the block, has been signing multiple former UFC and PFL fighters to their roster over the past few months. They haven't only promised improved fighter pay but also health insurance and post-retirement compensation.

Paige VanZant was among the latest to join the company, which sparked a response from an unconvinced former UFC fighter. Josh Thomson said on the WEIGHING IN podcast that GFL is well on its way to going bankrupt with the claims they are making:

"What I have heard is they came out with some astronomical amount of money they said they were gonna spend in their first year. Like $550 million... or maybe it's $250 million. That's crazy and I'm like, that's one way to go out of business."

Thomson also said that the promotion is padding up the roster to use the contracts to raise seed capital.

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Amanda Nunes is back!

Daniel Cormier confidently predicted on the Good Guy/ Bad Guy show that Amanda Nunes will return to the UFC in 2025. The chances of that happening go up if Kayla Harrison becomes the new women's bantamweight champion, he said.

"Amanda Nunes is back in 25, bro. Especially if Kayla Harrison wins. If Kayla Harrison beats, if she beats Julianna, Amanda's back."

Harrison has been calling for a fight with Nunes from when she was competing in the PFL. However, it never came to fruition due to 'The Lioness' retiring from the sport.