Ben Askren recently expressed his belief that Jon Jones might have some compromising information on UFC President Dana White, which could explain why White has been unusually lenient with Jones regarding the booking of fights.
During an episode of “Funky & The Champ,” Askren speculated that White’s tolerance of Jones’ behavior, particularly in delaying a fight with Tom Aspinall, is out of character given White’s usual insistence on making the best fights happen in the UFC.
Askren highlighted how the UFC, under White’s leadership, has always prided itself on avoiding the pitfalls of boxing, such as record-padding and avoiding tough matchups. The UFC has traditionally focused on ensuring the best fighters compete against each other to determine who truly is the best.
This approach makes White’s apparent patience with Jones even more surprising to Askren, leading him to suspect that Jones might be holding some sort of leverage over White.
Jones’ upcoming fight with Stipe Miocic, who hasn’t fought in nearly four years, is another point of contention for Askren. He finds it puzzling that White is allowing Jones to fight Miocic, given Miocic’s inactivity and the fact that there is a younger, more active interim champion in Tom Aspinall ready to compete.
Askren is concerned that Jones might win against Miocic and then retire without ever facing Aspinall, depriving fans of a potentially exciting matchup.
Furthermore, White has acknowledged the idea of having Aspinall as a backup for the Jones vs. Miocic fight, but Askren suggests that Aspinall should outright replace Miocic. Aspinall himself has been vocal about his belief that he should be the one to fight Jones instead of Miocic, citing Miocic’s long layoff and recent knockout loss as reasons why he is no longer a top contender.
Askren’s comments reflect a broader concern within the MMA community about whether Jones is receiving special treatment from White. The situation raises questions about the integrity of fight bookings and whether the best matchups are being made, or if other factors are influencing these decisions.
