Former UFC champion Jon Jones. Photo: Stephen R. Sylvanie – USA TODAY Sports
When Jon Jones makes his octagon return in March, he will be the second best paid UFC athlete ever.
That’s according to his representative Richard Schaefer, who discussed the twists and turns ahead of Jones’ return in the recent episode of “The MMA Hour” with Ariel Helwani.
“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,” Schaefer said. “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.”
Schaefer believed that the promotion had realized that Jon Jones is the GOAT, and therefore gave him a lucrative deal.
“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,” Schaefer said.
“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.”