According to UFC veteran Matt Brown, Jon Jones currently holds a strong negotiating position with the UFC, but this leverage is temporary and won`t last indefinitely.
Brown explained that while fighters generally have limited power when dealing with matchmakers and executives like Dana White and Hunter Campbell, Jones has gained more control over his career due to the significant attention surrounding a potential fight against Tom Aspinall. However, Brown advised Jones against pushing too hard, suggesting the UFC might eventually decide to move forward without him.
Speaking on “The Fighter vs. The Writer,” Brown stated, “They recognize that the biggest possible heavyweight fight involves Jon Jones, absolutely. They know that. We also understand the UFC can break records even without him. The extent of Jon’s power seems to depend on how much the UFC is willing to grant him.”
Brown continued, “They desire the most significant fight in heavyweight history, which they know Tom and Jon can deliver right now. Simultaneously, they’re aware that if Jon simply walks away, they can promote another fighter. They could make Ciryl Gane appear like a formidable opponent. This scenario isn`t new; the sport continues, and the heavyweight division currently has fewer top contenders.”
Brown feels Jones` current position is strong due to the limited pool of heavyweight contenders and his considerable star power, particularly as the UFC is in deep negotiations for a new broadcast deal set to commence in 2026.
The landscape would be much different if former heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou were still with the promotion, but with him gone, the UFC recognizes that Jones vs. Aspinall is arguably the most significant potential fight available in the sport today.
“This is where Jon certainly possesses some influence,” Brown stated. “Because it is heavyweight, that’s the primary revenue driver. That’s where you generate the biggest fights. That’s where the most people care. There’s a fascinating balance of power in play there. It’s a back-and-forth negotiation, and I believe Jon is at a stage in his career where he`s strategically navigating this.”
“He seeks greater influence,” Brown continued. “He’s that type of person. You can see it in his interviews, you can see who he is. He desires that power. He wants to be the top figure. He wants to earn the money. The UFC, as we know how they operate, will naturally try to push back against that.”
What limits Jones` leverage is the UFC`s dominant position in the MMA market. The organization continues to achieve record revenues even with major stars like Conor McGregor being largely inactive.
While the UFC would certainly benefit financially from a Jones vs. Aspinall bout, the patience shown with the current delays in making the fight a reality won`t continue indefinitely.
“The UFC is in a position where individual fighters almost become less crucial anymore,” Brown commented. “They will generate enormous sales. They are such a formidable brand. I don’t know how much can possibly happen without significant legal intervention. Other than that, they will simply progress.”
Tom Aspinall has been quite vocal about his frustration regarding the wait for Jones, but Brown is skeptical that Aspinall is genuinely ready to abandon the prospect of that fight.
Despite Aspinall`s public statements through interviews and on social media, Brown suspects the UFC has privately assured him the fight with Jones will eventually materialize; otherwise, Brown believes Aspinall would have already sought a different opponent.
“We aren’t privy to the specifics of what’s happening behind the scenes,” Brown remarked. “We don’t know what communications have occurred from Jon’s side or Aspinall’s side. However, I lean towards giving Aspinall the benefit of the doubt. If he genuinely didn`t believe the Jon Jones fight was going to happen, he likely would have accepted another bout.”
Brown contrasted this with the situation involving Michael Chandler and Conor McGregor, explaining, “Comparing it to the Chandler situation, I felt more strongly about that because it seemed to me Chandler was waiting for something with diminishing odds. The chances were slim, and they just got slimmer and slimmer as it went along. He was holding out for a slim possibility of it happening, whereas Aspinall has a valid reason to wait for Jon. Jon remains active. He still has things to fight for, and he has stated his price, essentially saying, ‘I’ll fight him, I just need the right number.’”
Ultimately, Brown anticipates a deal will be reached because he believes Jones is motivated to enhance his legacy, and a fight against Aspinall presents an excellent opportunity for this.
Unlike Conor McGregor, whose fighting future is uncertain, Brown is confident that Jones still has the desire to compete, and Aspinall represents the biggest and best available opponent.
“Jon is fundamentally a fighter,” Brown asserted. “He`s distinct from Conor—Conor is a fighter too, I’m not diminishing that, but Jon is a completely different individual altogether. He’s fiercely competitive. He’s a savage human being. You can sense his drive to fight people. He wants to fight people, and I think Conor was there at one point, but it appears pretty clear he’s not been there for a while.”
“Furthermore, there are no other clear opponents for Jon, either,” Brown added. “If he intends to continue competing, his opponent is Tom, plain and simple. There are no other viable options out there. Therefore, I understand why Tom is waiting for him. I truly do get it, and I believe if he had other compelling options and wasn`t reasonably sure this was going to happen with Jon, he would have accepted other matches.”
