Gilbert Burns may have recorded the biggest win of his career at UFC Vegas, but the growing tensions between Dana White and Jon Jones continues to make headlines. Case in point, following Saturday’s event, White slammed Jones yet again, over what he claims “Bones” wants to fight Francis Ngannou.
White claims Jones is making “crazy” demands
If you’ve been following the ongoing sage between Jones and White, you know it all began when “Bones” called for a fight with Ngannou. Hype for the bout quickly ratcheted up, but not long after, Jones claimed the UFC wasn’t willing to pay him more for the super fight.
White proceeded to claim in an interview that Jones is asking for an “absurd amount of money” and Jones was quick to accuse the UFC President of lying. The light-heavyweight champ has also challenged the UFC to release him.
Well, not surprisingly, White was asked about his growing issues with Jones, following UFC Vegas. Here’s some of what White had to say (quotes via MMA Fighting).
“The stuff that he’s been through, to show up and basically demand $20 million, or $30 million, it’s crazy,” White claimed. “So he can do whatever he wants to do. He can sit out, he can fight. He can do whatever.
“You know how this works. You know how I am. Jon Jones can say whatever he wants to publicly, and when he’s ready to come back and fight, he can.”
“Who do you believe? It’s up to you guys,” White said. “The (expletive) would I lie for? What do I gain in lying about it? Why would I lie? Doesn’t matter.
“Obviously, he’s fired up right now, and he had a great talk yesterday with Hunter, my lawyer, who’s really close to Jon Jones and likes him, and they have a good relationship, and they had a good talk yesterday.
But it is what it is. I really don’t care. I could care less, to be honest with you.”
“Jon Jones and I have always had this,” White added. “I’m always looking at what Jon Jones could have been.”
Where will things go from here?
As White noted, he and Jones have feuded in the past, and the parties have continued to work together. While that will likely be the case here as well, the timing of this latest flare up is interesting.
How so? Well, in recent months, there’s been times when Jones hasn’t sounded overly motivated to defend the light-heavyweight title. Thus, his interest in fighting Ngannou.
So, does Jones want to return to the Octagon for a bout with say, Jan Blachowicz? If tensions with the UFC and White continue to rise?
More About:MMA MMA Frenzy Sports