Reports suggest Saudi boxing figure Turki Alalshikh was involved in the UFC`s unsuccessful efforts to arrange a highly anticipated super-fight between Jon Jones and Tom Aspinall.
This potential clash for the unified heavyweight title was officially cancelled last weekend following the retirement announcement from the former undisputed champion, Jon Jones.
The UFC reportedly made extensive efforts to secure this massive bout, even agreeing to meet Jones` demand for a substantial payment, which he described as “F**K YOU MONEY.”
Despite initially agreeing to the title unification fight, Jones surprisingly withdrew, causing considerable frustration for Dana White and the UFC leadership.
According to veteran MMA reporter Ariel Helwani, the UFC was initially reluctant to satisfy Jones` demand for a record payday until the influential Saudi figure, Alalshikh, intervened.
Speaking on The Ariel Helwani Show, Helwani shared details about the negotiations:
Here`s what we can unequivocally say.
I told you months ago, the UFC wanted to make this fight. They did everything in their power to make this fight. Jon Jones asked for $30 million.
They didn`t want to give him $30 million (£22m). They negotiated. I heard from one source that even Turki [Alalshikh] got involved.
He wanted to make the fight. They eventually got to the $30 million.
Jon said he was in. A couple of days later, he said he was out. And once he said he was out, he was never back in.
Alalshikh`s alleged participation is perhaps unsurprising given his existing relationship with TKO Group, the parent company of the UFC.
Jon Jones` retirement, announced shortly before news emerged of a recent charge related to a non-fatal hit-and-run, has resulted in Tom Aspinall being promoted from interim to the undisputed heavyweight champion.
The British fighter (often called the `Atherton assassin`) has pledged to make the heavyweight division active again, suggesting it had been stagnant during Jones` recent tenure.
He made his intentions clear:
I am going to keep this thing as active as possible.
I want to be the best heavyweight to ever walk the face of the Earth.
I`m gonna defend this thing as many times as I possibly can and I`m gonna keep you guys entertained.
I`m going to give back to everybody who has shown me support over the last year, over the last five years and over the last ten years.
We`re gonna see an active defending UFC heavyweight undisputed champion going forward.
Percy Harlow