Michael Bisping is assured the UFC will come by way of on the promise of Jon Jones vs. Tom Aspinall for the UFC heavyweight title — and the previous middleweight champ is predicting when the extremely anticipated mega-fight may occur.
“Nicely, I undoubtedly consider the combat will occur this yr,” Bisping instructed MMA Preventing whereas previewing his function in Den of Thieves 2: Pantera, which opened in theaters Jan. 10. “Looks like Jones is up for it, looks like the UFC desires it to occur. I imply, they mentioned to Tom Aspinall, it’s a finished deal, it’s going to occur, and it might simply be such a disgrace if that combat didn’t occur.
“I believe it’s going to occur. Worldwide Battle Week, Las Vegas 2025. However what do I do know I’m not basing that on any inside info.”
Just lately, UFC shade commentator Joe Rogan mentioned on his huge podcast The Joe Rogan Expertise that he believes the UFC is working onerous on making Jones vs. Aspinall occur, and that Jones is asking for $30 million and the UFC is “going to pay it, hopefully.”
Based on UFC CEO Dana White, Jones requested for roughly $30 million — or that “Deontay Wilder was paid” to combat Tyson Fury for the second time. White thought the concept was absurd again then, however now, maybe the UFC is in place to pay that charge.
The query stays, nonetheless: Is yesterday’s value the identical as right this moment’s?
“I do know what you already know, when Joe Rogan mentioned apparently he desires $30 million, good for him,” Bisping mentioned. “I hope he will get paid that cash. I hope he does, and I hope we get to see the combat. And if it isn’t 30 million, possibly it’s round that — possibly it’s $20 million, $25 [million], possibly it’s extra. I believe the demand for this combat can be there.”
Bisping is returning to the Den of Thieves franchise after enjoying the function of Connor within the first movie in 2018. Practically seven years later, the movie — which stars Gerard Butler and O’Shea Jackson — returns for a much-anticipated sequel. The motion movie can even characteristic appearances from former UFC interim heavyweight champion Ciryl Gane, and GLORY kickboxing nice Rico Verhoeven.
The 45-year-old Bisping grinded his approach by way of the U.Okay. regional MMA scene the place he competed on season three of The Final Fighter, successful the sunshine heavyweight season to earn a UFC contract. “The Rely” battled within the UFC octagon for over a decade earlier than realizing his dream of turning into world champion with a shocking knockout of Luke Rockhold at UFC 199 in June 2016.
Having transitioned from competing within the octagon to calling the motion exterior of it, Bisping is completely satisfied that the UFC’s development may probably result in Jones getting such a large pay day to combat, which hopefully trickles down the road for years to return.
“I believe it’s unbelievable that nowadays we’re speaking about these sort of combat purses being concerned in combined martial arts,” Bisping defined. “I mentioned this in my video, after I began MMA – I’m speaking pre-UFC after I first began like regional stage MMA — everyone mentioned, ‘When you’re entering into this sport for cash, you’re within the incorrect sport,’ and I used to be like, ‘Holy cow, that is the one purpose why I’m getting concerned on this sport.’
“After all, you already know, I did fairly nicely, and now we’re seeing individuals, clearly Conor McGregor’s finished improbable, a number of individuals within the UFC have turn into millionaires by way of this sport, and now we’re seeing, individuals like Jon Jones getting what was solely regarded, or what was solely seen doable in just like the excessive stage famous person boxers, these sort of paydays. Now Jon Jones [may be] getting that and different individuals can be down the road as nicely.
“I believe it’s an ideal signal of the expansion of the game.”
