Rogan debunks claims Jones wants 30 million to fight Aspinall

Joe Rogan has recently walked back a recent claim he made that Jon Jones was seeking a staggering $30 million to fight Tom Aspinall. During a prior episode of his podcast, “The Joe Rogan Experience,” Rogan stated he had heard a rumor regarding Jones’ supposed financial demands, expressing hope that the UFC would meet them.

This assertion quickly spread through the MMA community, raising eyebrows given the UFC’s historical reluctance to pay fighters such high amounts, except in rare cases like Conor McGregor.

However, following a conversation with UFC President Dana White, Rogan clarified that the rumor was unfounded. He stated, “Dana contacted me and said that rumor is bulls***.” Rogan admitted he could not recall the source of the rumor and acknowledged that it might have been misleading from the start.

In light of this situation, Rogan also touched on Jones’ future in the sport. He suggested that Jones might be contemplating retirement after knocking out Stipe Miocic at UFC 309 in November 2024. Rogan remarked, “Apparently, Jon is thinking about retiring… He should think about it. Give the man all the time he wants.” 

Fans still look forward to a Jones vs. Aspinall fixture, especially as White has confirmed that a title unification bout is a priority for 2025. Despite Jones’ reluctance to fight Aspinall immediately, the fight is considered significant for both fighters and the heavyweight division as a whole.

Rogan’s retraction may not come as a surprise to some fans who are familiar with the UFC’s attitude towards huge payouts for fighters, at least compared to boxers. Still, his clarification is welcomed as it will renew interest in the fixture and could lead to talks between the two camps.  

As for Jones, he is yet to publicly announce that he is fighting Aspinall next, or any time at all, and neither has Aspinall acknowledged a possible fixture with Jones. But a fight between the champion and interim seems like the perfect match-up, and the right deal could get both men in the octagon for a showdown.