The UFC’s lead commentator Jon Anik has stated his belief that a heavyweight title showdown for the ages between current champion Jon Jones and interim titleholder Tom Aspinall will be made, and even went as far as to suggest that it’ll take place in the summer of 2025.
“I have no inside information, I truly don’t,” Anik told MMAJunkie. “You can call it informed speculation…
“I don’t have any inside information but I do believe that fight is going to happen. And I think most telling is the way Jon Jones handled his post-fight interview with Joe Rogan.
Anik later insisted that Jones should be paid whatever price he is looking for, as the risk of competing at heavyweight is so large.
“It just comes down to what Jon Jones’ number is. What is Jon Jones’ net worth [and] what number is he looking for? Is it $25 million to show? You know, what is Michael Jordan worth? What is the greatest of all time worth?”
“I feel like the company is in a great position to make this fight and I think you’ve got to do Las Vegas. You’ve got to do International Fight Week 2025.
“I think what he wants is that is like that 30, 40, 50 million dollar payday, which he so deserves at this point in time. Because as heavyweight MMA goes, anything can happen…
“The consequences are so great when it comes to four-ounce gloves with these guys chucking that yeah, Tom Aspinall could knock Jon Jones out in a minute and I don’t think it’s legacy diminishing whatsoever.
“But, you better make $30 million because then, at that point in time, maybe Jon Jones doesn’t want to have another training camp and rematch Tom Aspinall. Or have two or three more fights.
“In my mind, he has 16 championship banners already hanging… I just want to see Jon Jones get paid and I think that’s what’s going to happen and I think that’s going to be the driving force behind making the fight.”
