Chael Sonnen claims that Jon Jones vs. Tom Aspinall is all however a finished deal.
For over a yr, one of many greatest tales in MMA is the potential struggle between UFC heavyweight champion Jon Jones and interim heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall and whether or not it’ll occur in any respect. Properly, in keeping with UFC Corridor of Famer Chael Sonnen, it’s not a query of if, however when.
“Alex Pereira was one of the crucial attention-grabbing males we’ve got in our sport as a result of he was going for use as a pawn on the chessboard to get Aspinall vs. Jones collectively,” Sonnen instructed Submission Radio not too long ago. “If Jon Jones saved holding out, that chance was merely going to fit to Alex Pereira. Pereira vs. Aspinall is one hell of a comfort prize if you happen to can’t get Jones vs. Aspinall. …
“They obtained a deal finished with Jon Jones and Aspinall, no less than verbally, the evening earlier than — that is inside info, you’ll not have heard this story wherever else — they obtained a deal finished verbally the evening earlier than Pereira vs. Ankalaev.”
Sonnen’s claims appear to assist current feedback from UFC CEO Dana White who instructed TNT Sports activities not too long ago that the bout is “just a matter of when now, getting it signed and done” in addition to feedback from Aspinall that he’s “very optimistic” in regards to the matchup. However regardless of all this optimism, nothing has been made official but, maybe as a result of, as rumor has it, Jones desires six months to arrange for the bout. Or, in keeping with Sonnen, Jones merely backed himself right into a nook.
“I’ll let you know one factor: Jon Jones desires six months, I don’t consider Jon meant it when he mentioned it,” Sonnen mentioned. “I don’t suppose Jon ever knew this was going to be an announcement he might make that may then stick round for 3 weeks and all people can be bouncing this backwards and forwards. I don’t suppose he actually meant it.
“I do know when Jon sat down on the desk and the very first time he ever spoke about Tom Aspinall he mentioned, ‘I want $30 million,’ he didn’t imply that. They have been simply phrases after which they ended up sticking. … He didn’t really imply it. He didn’t imply that he wants six months, however now they put him within the place the place he virtually has to demand that he will get six months as a result of it’s been so huge. …
“One factor about it although, go get your cash. The cash doesn’t change. Get it as fast as you’ll be able to and get finished. The one factor that placing six months between Jon and Tom will do — and I don’t know who wins between these boys. There’s a purpose they stroll on the market and do the precise struggle. Nothing will change although. In the event that they struggle tonight, in the event that they struggle in Madison Sq. Backyard in November, in the event that they struggle on the street in a month, in the event that they struggle in six days, six weeks, six months, or six years, whoever is healthier will win. 100% of the time.”
Earlier this yr, Dana White steered the struggle might happen this summer time, which might not mesh with Jones’s rumored six-month demand. Nevertheless, as Sonnen factors out, if that is all true, it could line up properly for Jones to take one more journey to The Huge Apple when the UFC makes its yearly pilgrimage there this fall.
“Sure, I do,” Sonnen mentioned when requested if he believes the struggle will occur this yr. “I’m going to foretell November, New York. That’s not an inside scoop, by the best way. I simply know in November they’re taking part in New York, in December they’re taking part in Vegas. That’s an enormous struggle. Perhaps you are taking it to the struggle capital of the world. Perhaps. Or possibly you are taking it to the venue that’s produced your largest dwell gate in historical past. I assume we’ll see how that complete factor performs out.”
