What’s buzzing in the heavyweight division, you ask? It’s not the long-awaited showdown between Jon Jones and Tom Aspinall—at least not yet. Word on the street is that the UFC has allegedly agreed to cough up the eye-popping $30 million that Jones demanded. Or so Ariel Helwani believes. Now, fans can’t help but wonder—why such a hefty payday? Well, for that, you can thank the ripple effect of Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson.

“The heavyweight fight will happen. Just relax, I’ll announce that soon,” said Dana White while unveiling the UFC 317 bangers. The UFC CEO is confident that Jon Jones will eventually defend his title against Tom Aspinall—but when? That remains the unanswered question. White’s certainty suggests that the fight is already in the works. Does that mean he has agreed to Jon Jones’ terms? That might have been the case, but why is Jones demanding such an amount from the promotion?

According to UFC Hofer, Chael Sonnen, it’s all thanks to the Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson fiasco. While having a conversation with his audience on his YouTube handle, Uncle Chael stated, “So Jon gets done with the fight. He says he wants to get 30 or 40 million dollars. Now, this is great trolling. This is great trolling. Where do you get a number as random as 30 or 40 million? Like, if your parents ever ask you, “Do you need some money?” You run to the store, and you’re like, “Man, I need two or three bucks.” You know.”

He further added, “Well, I’ll tell you. Because Mike Tyson and Jake Paul had fought the night before, and there was a rumor that they made between 20 and 30 million bucks. I had just read the headline myself. “20 to 30 million” was as fresh in my mind as it is in Jon’s when Jon sat down and said, to go out there and finish this duel with Tom Aspinall, he’s going to need about 20–30 million bucks.”

The Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson boxing match on Netflix was a massive success for the platform, as the billion-dollar entertainment giant secured multiple deals following the event. One could say that Netflix was testing its live event coverage—and passed with flying colors. While the official payouts for Jake Paul and Mike Tyson were not publicly disclosed, rumors suggest that Paul took home a staggering $40 million, while Tyson earned $20 million.

Chael Sonnen highlights that these numbers might have led Jones to demand a $30 million payday from the UFC CEO.  Under normal circumstances, a champion would have been stripped of the title by now—but not Jon Jones. Why? Perhaps because the UFC CEO already has something planned for him. Interestingly, ‘Bones’ has recently come forward to provide a major update on a Tom Aspinall unification fight.

Did Jon Jones just agree to a Tom Aspinall fight?

After brutally knocking out Stipe Miocic at UFC 309, Jon Jones made it clear—retirement isn’t in the cards just yet. His bold statement effectively hit the brakes on the entire heavyweight division, leaving interim champ Tom Aspinall stuck in limbo and waiting on the sidelines. But what’s “Bones” been up to since then?

Currently soaking up the sun in Thailand, Jones is filming a Russian version of The Ultimate Fighter alongside none other than Nate Diaz. And here’s the kicker—while enjoying his Southeast Asian getaway, Jones may have just dropped a subtle hint about his next big move.

On Monday, the fighter made an X post about eating well and losing weight, to which a fan replied, “Enjoying your last days as champ before being stripped I see eh Jon? Jones hit back, “Stripped? Lol, do I come across as the type of person who cares about things like that?”

Moreover, another fan highlighted that Jones might be worried about his belt; otherwise, he would’ve vacated it long ago. Responding to such comments, ‘Bones’ stated, “Yall barkin up the wrong tree. I told the UFC my plans a long time ago. I have no clue why they haven’t shared them with you guys yet.” When asked about his fight with Tom Aspinall, Jones disregarded the question with a shady answer: “To continue to monetize on this amazing brand that I’ve created.”

What might be his plans that the UFC has yet to disclose? Will Jones ever fight Tom Aspinall, or is he planning to retire without fighting? Too many unanswered questions, but amidst the chaos, one thing is certain, and that’s the fact that Dana White is cooking something…