Jon Jones advises the next generation of fighters to not put their faith in the UFC the same way he did.
Jon Jones is urging young fighters to have less trust in the UFC than he did.
Jones continued his social media campaign against UFC on Monday. The UFC light heavyweight champion and UFC president Dana White are far apart at the negotiation table. Jones, 32, continued to vocalize his displeasure with the promotion while urging young fighters to be cautious when doing business with the UFC.
“Advice while you young, fighters, if you’re hot right now. Get paid. As much as the UFC is building your brand, you are building their’s. If you think your biggest paydays will come after being with the company for a while. You are wrong,” Jones tweeted. “If me sitting from fighting somehow helps some fighters in the future get taken care of better, well, I did my job. You’re welcome.”
It’s not a matter of not wanting to fight, I committed my whole life to this trade. The issue is not being able to go anywhere else. @espn
— Jon Bones Jones (@JonnyBones) June 8, 2020
Jones shared his own stories of being underpaid on the come up.
“When I was in my prime, the UFC‘s way of not paying me was telling me I wasn’t a star. Had me grateful for a new car meanwhile making tens of millions without my knowing,” he wrote. “I fought mega fight after mega fight throughout my early 20s for under $2 million a fight. Who knows what I’m actually owed, makes me feel like a fool even thinking about it.” Adding, “I’m not even asking for back pay for ripping me off throughout my entire 20s. Just wanted to be treated fair moving forward.”
Jones asserts that all he wants is to “to be treated fair” and for “fighters to finally start getting a higher percentage.”
Like I said I’m not even fighting for what happened in the past. I just would like to know they would be willing to at least play ball moving forward. The way the beginning of our heavyweight negotiations was going sent nothing but red flags. https://t.co/x7SLv9G6rG
— Jon Bones Jones (@JonnyBones) June 8, 2020
“Everything was good until I asked for a piece of the pie.. UFC totally comfortable with me taking concussions for over a decade but asking for generational wealth. Get the f—k out of here,” he asserted. “Do you not listen to Dana? Almost every interview he mentions how the UFC are breaking new records and are at an all-time high. Dana mentioned I want [Deontay] Wilder money, meanwhile over the entirety of my career I haven’t even made a quarter of that.”
“No one’s asking to break the bank,” Jones insisted. “Just show your athletes you don’t think we are all idiots.”
View all of Jones’ tweets below in chronological order.
It’s not a matter of not wanting to fight, I committed my whole life to this trade. The issue is not being able to go anywhere else. @espn
— Jon Bones Jones (@JonnyBones) June 8, 2020
Everything was good until I asked for a piece of the pie.. ufc totally comfortable with me taking concussions for over a decade but asking for generational wealth. Get the fuck out of here.
— Jon Bones Jones (@JonnyBones) June 8, 2020
Do you not listen to Dana? Almost every interview he mentions how the UFC are breaking new records and are at an all-time high. Dana mentioned I want Wilder money, meanwhile over the entirety of my career I haven’t even made a quarter of that. https://t.co/Vtrf2UsNd1
— Jon Bones Jones (@JonnyBones) June 8, 2020
When I was in my prime, the Ufc‘s way of not paying me was telling me I wasn’t a star. Had me grateful for a new car meanwhile making tens of millions without my knowing.
— Jon Bones Jones (@JonnyBones) June 8, 2020
Impressed a young kid with a Bentley to fight Lyoto Machida while they collected millions
— Jon Bones Jones (@JonnyBones) June 8, 2020
I’m not even asking for backpay for ripping me off throughout my entire 20s. Just wanted to be treated fair moving forward
— Jon Bones Jones (@JonnyBones) June 8, 2020
Advice while you Young fighters, if you’re hot right now. Get paid. As much as the Ufc is building your brand, you are building their’s. If you think your biggest paydays will come after being with the company for a while. You are wrong.
— Jon Bones Jones (@JonnyBones) June 8, 2020
I fought mega fight after mega fight throughout my early 20s for under 2million a fight. Who knows what I’m actually owed, makes me feel like a fool even thinking about it
— Jon Bones Jones (@JonnyBones) June 8, 2020
Like I said I’m not even fighting for what happened in the past. I just would like to know they would be willing to at least play ball moving forward. The way the beginning of our heavyweight negotiations was going sent nothing but red flags. https://t.co/x7SLv9G6rG
— Jon Bones Jones (@JonnyBones) June 8, 2020
This statement isnt entirely true, it was right around 2million a fight. Not fair to say it was under, still robbery https://t.co/WRCZtkx5mf
— Jon Bones Jones (@JonnyBones) June 8, 2020
Just to be treated fair man. For all of us fighters to finally start getting a higher percentage. No one’s asking to break the bank, just show your athletes you don’t think we are all idiots. https://t.co/0Pgi8B1NmN
— Jon Bones Jones (@JonnyBones) June 8, 2020
Since joining the Ufc? Millions! I may not be a megastar but I’ve been bringing in new fans for over a decade. https://t.co/chdHYHD3tZ
— Jon Bones Jones (@JonnyBones) June 8, 2020
The UFC has never made me fulfill more than five fights on a contract. I signed my current deal three fights ago. That isn’t a new deal https://t.co/PBEinFz3An
— Jon Bones Jones (@JonnyBones) June 8, 2020
I know I’ve had some negative press over the years but this can’t be the only thing that Ufc is using to justify under paying me for so long https://t.co/9CG7KTReKv
— Jon Bones Jones (@JonnyBones) June 8, 2020
Oh trust me I’m enjoying the vacation, I’ve been suspended quite a few times. This is nothing new for me. It just sucks Dana is being so stubborn and greedy. It’s ultimately hurting the fans https://t.co/Ki6FexXQCi
— Jon Bones Jones (@JonnyBones) June 8, 2020
If me sitting from fighting somehow helps some fighters in the future get taken care of better, well I did my job. You’re welcome
— Jon Bones Jones (@JonnyBones) June 8, 2020
You’re absolutely right, I have made some bad choices while growing up in the public eye. But honestly I feel like that whole conversation it’s just a bit of a distraction. It’s not justifying https://t.co/HsmQQXF08d
— Jon Bones Jones (@JonnyBones) June 8, 2020