The Jon Jones vs. Tom Aspinall saga positive aspects new layers day by day on social media with each UFC heavyweight champions — lineal and interim — taking pictures at one another. In the meantime, UFC CEO Dana White continually repeats, every time requested, that the unification bout will occur.
UFC veteran Renato Moicano doesn’t share the optimism.
“I believe it’s absurd,” Moicano informed MMA Combating about Aspinall being pressured to sit down out a file time with out a likelihood to unify belts. “[Jones] is doing the identical factor [Conor] McGregor did to [Michael] Chandler, two years ready, eager to move Tom Aspinall’s prime. The distinction is that one is a champion — however McGregor was greater than a champion as a result of McGregor has the McGregor hype.”
Moicano does consider White really desires to ebook the battle. However though the corporate might shortly transfer on from it if Jones decides to retire as a substitute of going through a younger challenger in Aspinall, having him round whereas negotiating an essential TV deal means good enterprise.
“The UFC is in a troublesome state of affairs as a result of on the similar time they wish to resolve this, they nonetheless want Jon Jones — no less than his picture, similar to they want McGregor,” Moicano stated. “That’s two issues the UFC would relatively not have, but when they inform these guys to f*ck off, or in the event that they pull them off, the corporate loses lots. There’s no area for stars like previously. Like McGregor, like Jon Jones, like Ronda Rousey and Brock Lesnar. It’s extra unfold now. I believe the one star that had that type of attraction was Alex Pereira, who had that and misplaced. Had he beat [Magomed] Ankalaev, he could be on that degree of recognition.
“However Pereira misplaced, and Ankalaev is [champion]. Inform me, which champion is common? You will have [Alexandre] Pantoja, who isn’t common. [Merab] Dvalishvili is getting extra common however isn’t common both. [Alexander] Volkanovski is common, however misplaced twice to Islam [Makhachev] and he’s older — and was by no means a world star like Max Holloway was. At 155 you could have Islam, who’s highly regarded within the Arab world however doesn’t impresses the American and Western viewers. Dustin Poirier would have been higher deal for the UFC. At 170 you had Belal Muhammad and now it’s Jack Della Maddalena, who has like 300,000 followers, he simply began. At 185, it’s Dricus Du Plessis, who isn’t common. [Khamzat] Chimaev would have been significantly better. At 205, it’s Magomed Ankalaev. Not even his mom cares about him [laughs].
“And heavyweight it’s Jon Jones. The UFC is in [Jones and McGregor’s] palms, however in my view they need to strip him of the belt and put Tom Aspinall to battle another person. However in the event you take a look at the division, who else? Ciryl Gane? I believe Ciryl Gane sucks. Individuals will criticize me, however Ciryl Gane can’t even spell jiu-jitsu, brother. [Alexander] Volkov is doing something however battle. Individuals received’t battle. So the UFC is in Jon Jones’ palms. And I don’t assume the [Aspinall] battle received’t occur. Jon Jones is simply shopping for time and received’t do it as a result of there’s a giant likelihood he loses to Tom Aspinall. Aspinall is a brand new era of heavyweights. He’s quick, athletic, and the chance isn’t price it.”
In the long run, Moicano feels that the concept of getting Jones face Aspinall hurts the promotion as a result of the UFC, below right this moment’s enterprise mannequin and ESPN deal, isn’t incentivized to open the checkbook for greater fights.
“Not solely it creates demand [from fans], it provides [Jones] leverage in negotiation,” Moicano stated. “McGregor has an absurd leverage with the UFC. And folks don’t perceive that the UFC has made McGregor. You possibly can’t take anybody and attempt to repeat the recipe, you want a really particular persona to make somebody a McGregor. However on the similar time, with out the UFC machine that may make anybody a star, McGregor wouldn’t have turn out to be the monster he’s right this moment. The UFC needs to be very cautious. He has to observe the wolf so it doesn’t develop to massive, you already know? The wolf has to remain small to scare the others, however don’t chunk the proprietor.”
With rising website charges for on the highway occasions, and an excellent greater TV deal on the horizon, the funds of the UFC look higher than even on the long run.
“[The UFC] is earning profits in each form and kind now, particularly with this swap, ESPN leaving and Netflix or Amazon coming,” Moicano stated. “There’s extra billions now. They’re saying like a billion per yr. And like, it doesn’t matter who’s preventing. Signing guys for 8+8 or 10+10 on the Contender [Series] and placing them to battle. Like Raul Rosas Jr. preventing somebody ranked. Like [Caio] Borralho, who left the Contender on a small contract and was already preventing robust guys. You win? Promote this man. You lose? Name another person. Their machine is just about unbeatable, in order that they aren’t too apprehensive about any of that.
“I believe they’re on this leverage with Jon Jones and McGregor due to the [TV deal]. They want numbers to indicate Netflix. Who’re those that promote? It’s clearly McGregor first, then Jon Jones, and perhaps Alex Pereira [third]. However they should have these numbers to have the ability to negotiate how a lot [the network] pays. After the deal is finished, f*ck it, brother, it’s 5 extra years with cash on the pocket, and we take into consideration all that later.”
