Jon Jones Denies He Asked For ‘Deontay Wilder Money’ For Ngannou Fight, Asks For UFC Release

Jon Jones has fired back in his ongoing battle with Dana White over claims he wanted big money for a fight with Francis Ngannou, demanding to be released from his UFC contract. As previously reported, Jones said last week that the potential bout wouldn’t be happening because the company was “unwilling to pay more for the Francis superfight.”

Dana White said last week that Jones was asking for an “absurd amount of money” for the fight, and said on Friday (per MMA Junkie), “I’ll quote him and what he had said to my lawyer. He told my lawyer he wants what Deontay Wilder was paid (for his most recent fight). I think it was $30 million, was what Deontay Wilder was paid.”

Jones has now responded, posting a series of tweets on Saturday night after UFC on ESPN, telling White to have his lawyer “release those text messages” and denying he asked for Wilder’s price tag. He proceeded to say, “I don’t even make half of half of what Diante Wilder makes. If my reputation causes you to undervalue me this much. Just go ahead and release me from my [UFC] contract altogether. I’m sure some promoter somewhere will be more than happy to pick me up.”

You can see his posts below:

The reporter asked Dana to show the text messages instead he gives a 55 second response talking about why would I lie 🤷🏾‍♂️

— Jon Bones Jones (@JonnyBones) May 31, 2020

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

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

I’d probably make more in my first boxing match than my next three UFC fights combined. There’s real estate, acting, just kicking it and being a dad. No one needs to put up with Dana‘s lies https://t.co/YKYKhqfR47

— Jon Bones Jones (@JonnyBones) May 31, 2020