mma / News
Jon Jones Accuses The UFC Of Underpaying Him For Most of His Career, Says Fighters Should Get Better Percentages
Jon Jones says his feud with the UFC over pay is over years of being underpaid, and that the company needs to start paying fighters what they’re worth. Jones has been vocal about his issues with the company over the last few weeks, claiming that they were not willing to offer him better money for a superfight with Francis Ngannou and asking for his release from the company. He has also announced that he is giving up the UFC light heavyweight title over the issue.
In a new series of tweets posted on Monday, Jones said that the UFC was happy with him “until I asked for a piece of the pie” and said that the company has undervalued him for the majority of his career. He noted that “When I was in my prime, the [UFC’s] way of not paying me was telling me I wasn’t a star. Had me grateful for a new car meanwhile making tens of millions without my knowing.”
He added that he’s “not even asking for backpay for ripping me off throughout my entire 20s. Just wanted to be treated fair moving forward.” He went on to talk about how he had several huge fights throughout his early twenties and was paid around $2 million per fight, which he referred to as “robbery” and that he wants “Just to be treated fair man. For all of us fighters to finally start getting a higher percentage. No one’s asking to break the bank, just show your athletes you don’t think we are all idiots.”
Dana White has said that Jones wanted an “absurd” amount of money, comparing it to Deontay Wilder’s pay for boxing matches. Jones has denied that he asked for anything near that much.
Everything was good until I asked for a piece of the pie.. ufc totally comfortable with me taking concussions for over a decade but asking for generational wealth. Get the fuck out of here.
— Jon Bones Jones (@JonnyBones) June 8, 2020
Do you not listen to Dana? Almost every interview he mentions how the UFC are breaking new records and are at an all-time high. Dana mentioned I want Wilder money, meanwhile over the entirety of my career I haven’t even made a quarter of that. https://t.co/Vtrf2UsNd1
— Jon Bones Jones (@JonnyBones) June 8, 2020
When I was in my prime, the Ufc‘s way of not paying me was telling me I wasn’t a star. Had me grateful for a new car meanwhile making tens of millions without my knowing.
— Jon Bones Jones (@JonnyBones) June 8, 2020
Impressed a young kid with a Bentley to fight Lyoto Machida while they collected millions
— Jon Bones Jones (@JonnyBones) June 8, 2020
I’m not even asking for backpay for ripping me off throughout my entire 20s. Just wanted to be treated fair moving forward
— Jon Bones Jones (@JonnyBones) June 8, 2020
Advice while you Young fighters, if you’re hot right now. Get paid. As much as the Ufc is building your brand, you are building their’s. If you think your biggest paydays will come after being with the company for a while. You are wrong.
— Jon Bones Jones (@JonnyBones) June 8, 2020
I fought mega fight after mega fight throughout my early 20s for under 2million a fight. Who knows what I’m actually owed, makes me feel like a fool even thinking about it
— Jon Bones Jones (@JonnyBones) June 8, 2020
This statement isnt entirely true, it was right around 2million a fight. Not fair to say it was under, still robbery https://t.co/WRCZtkx5mf
— Jon Bones Jones (@JonnyBones) June 8, 2020
Like I said I’m not even fighting for what happened in the past. I just would like to know they would be willing to at least play ball moving forward. The way the beginning of our heavyweight negotiations was going sent nothing but red flags. https://t.co/x7SLv9G6rG
— Jon Bones Jones (@JonnyBones) June 8, 2020
Just to be treated fair man. For all of us fighters to finally start getting a higher percentage. No one’s asking to break the bank, just show your athletes you don’t think we are all idiots. https://t.co/0Pgi8B1NmN
— Jon Bones Jones (@JonnyBones) June 8, 2020
Oh trust me I’m enjoying the vacation, I’ve been suspended quite a few times. This is nothing new for me. It just sucks Dana is being so stubborn and greedy. It’s ultimately hurting the fans https://t.co/Ki6FexXQCi
— Jon Bones Jones (@JonnyBones) June 8, 2020
If me sitting from fighting somehow helps some fighters in the future get taken care of better, well I did my job. You’re welcome
— Jon Bones Jones (@JonnyBones) June 8, 2020