Jon Jones is likely the second highest-paid fighter in UFC history, according to his representative, former boxing promoter, Richard Schaefer.
Days after UFC president Dana White officially announced Jones’ long-awaited return will happen March 4 vs. Ciryl Gane at UFC 285, Schaefer shed light on negotiations and the final outcome.
“When you try to put together big fights, there are always a lot of twists and turns,” Schaefer said Monday on “The MMA Hour.” “We certainly had our fair share of twists over the past 24 or so months that I’ve been working with Jon. I’m very happy for Jon. I’m very happy for the MMA fans to see Jon finally fight for that UFC heavyweight title. It has been long in the making. You never really knew who it was going to be. We knew that it was going to be for the title. That’s what Jon wanted. I’m very happy that Jon is getting that title shot.”
Jones 35, has not competed since February 2020. Considered by many, including White, as the best fighter in the sport’s history, Jones has had an up-and-down relationship with the UFC since his emergence as a star.
In August 2020, Jones vacated his UFC title. In March 2021, it hit new levels of toxicity when Jones publicly asked for his release from the promotion. When it was time for Jones circle back with UFC brass for negotiations, he parted ways with longtime managers Malki and Abraham Kawa, and enlisted the services of Schaefer, a former CEO of Golden Boy Promotions.
Despite past clashes between his client and the UFC, Schaefer indicated negotiations were professional and eventually terms were reached. According to Schaefer, the deal likely makes Jones the second highest paid fighter in UFC history behind Conor McGregor.
“I think UFC realizes that Jon Jones is the GOAT,” Schaefer said. “He is a generational talent, so they were very much interested and very open to work with us and come to the conclusion of putting together a fair deal, which we did here. That deal we made for Jon makes Jon (in) the history of the UFC, the highest paid heavyweight athlete. Overall, I think as Hunter mentioned to me, probably the second highest ever next to Conor McGregor. So it was a long negotiation but it was not a hostile negotiation. It wasn’t where both sides dug their heels in. I think both sides wanted to find a way. We found a way and here it is.”
“… It was a contract that made both parties happy. Maybe it made both parties a little bit unhappy as well. I think in order for this to happen, every side had to give a little bit. We are very pleased and I’m sure UFC is pleased. I’m sure Jon is very happy to be back and get this opportunity to fight for the heavyweight title.”
Jones did not sign a new contract, according to Schaefer, contrary to what White said at a news conference Saturday, that Jones signed an “eight-fight deal.” The contract remains the same, but was reconstructed with Jones’ move to heavyweight.
“Jon was under an existing deal which really did not contemplate for any fights at heavyweight,” Schaefer said. “It was for the light heavyweight division. There were eight fights left. It’s not really a new deal. It’s an amendment to the existing deal, which includes heavyweight provisions. It’s not like he was free and he entered into a new deal, no. He was on the contract with the UFC, but we twisted the existing contract and in the end it was just easier to sign a new contract, always keeping in mind eight fights were still on the books.
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