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The UFC fighter pay debate picked up steam following UFC 249 and has seen many fighters jump onto the bandwagon. It began when Jon Jones claimed he wasn’t getting paid enough to step into the Octagon against Francis Ngannou. The UFC Light Heavyweight has not budged and has dealt with claims that he allegedly demanded Deontay Wilder money.

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Furthermore, he vacated the championship on Twitter (but the company still recognizes him as king of the 205 lbs division). Now, Dana White who had earlier said that the fighter can do whatever he wants to do has tried to put an end to the money issues debate.

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As per a tweet by Chisanga Malata, the UFC President appeared on ESPN First Take and said, “Ask Jon Jones what he’s made. Ask Jon Jones how much he’s getting paid. See what he tells you.”

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White opines that such a question will be met with silence as once ‘Bones’ pay becomes public everything will change.  He says, “He won’t tell you what he’s getting paid. Because I think the narrative changes a lot when you find out how much Jon Jones makes.”

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Jon Jones doesn’t like not making as much as Conor or Khabib

However, the UFC President once more highlighted his belief of Jon Jones being the greatest fighter. He has a near-perfect record which is only blemished by a questionable disqualification over a decade ago. Furthermore, White put the spotlight on the exact issue that may be affecting the long-reigning champion. 

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White concluded, “But Jones feels he is underpaid. I’ve said it many times. I think Jon Jones is the GOAT. I think he’s the greatest in the sport, within the last how many ever years and he doesn’t make the money that a Conor and a Khabib made and he doesn’t like that.”

Jones features in the list of highest-paid UFC fighters of all time. However, incidents outside the Octagon have seen him stripped of the belt which may have resulted in him being unable to be in the same pay bracket as the big names in the 155 lbs division. 

What is your take on White saying that a Jon Jones salary reveal can change the narrative of the UFC fighter pay debate?

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Reubyn Coutinho

1,037 Articles

Reubyn Coutinho is the Head of Fact-Checking Initiatives and Content Quality Lead at EssentiallySports, where he oversees editorial quality across multiple sports verticals. A Communication graduate, he’s spent over five years shaping the site’s evolution from a niche sports blog into an all-in-one news platform, mentoring more than 110 journalists, introducing data-driven article improvements, and developing editorial guidelines for global audiences. Across his career at ES, Reubyn has worked as a writer, editor, and senior editor, covering everything from UFC, WWE, and boxing to F1, NFL, NBA, and tennis. His bylines include exclusive interviews with former UFC champions Demetrious Johnson and Miesha Tate, as well as combat sports stars Marcus Almeida and Sage Northcutt. Known for his meticulous eye, he regularly resolves headline debates, revisits trending pieces using live analytics, and sets the standard for high-quality sports reporting. Outside of sports media, Reubyn is an active film critic, contributing reviews and festival coverage to Netflix Junkie, where he’s covered events such as MAMI, Venice, and NYAFF. Whether he’s breaking down a championship fight or a Hitchcock classic, his work comes with deep research with a pure love for sport.

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