Jones was one of those caught under the UFC's new anti-doping policy. Photo: Disclosure/UFC
UFC president Dana White estimates that Jon Jones has lost tens of millions of dollars due to the problems it has been involved in over the last two years and which have left it out of business.
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Jones, who in 2011 became the youngest athlete to win a straight UFC title, at 23 years old, has only fought once since February 2015. According to White, if the fighter had remained active during this period, his financial income would have been significantly higher.
“If he had continued fighting, moved to heavyweight and challenged for the title there, it would have been huge. He could have profited from US$ 15 million to US$ 20 million (R$ 47 million to R$ 63 million at current prices)”, estimated the director, in an interview with the program “The Dan LeBatard Show”.
White believes that in addition to the financial losses, Jones also caused damage to his legacy. “He could definitely go down as one of the greatest of all time. In the time he was away, he could have defended the belt a few more times. But, when you do what he did, you have to pay a price”, he opined.
In April 2015, Jones was suspended by the UFC after being involved in a traffic accident and fleeing the scene without providing aid to the victim, a pregnant woman. In July this year, on the eve of UFC 200, the American was removed from action after failing an anti-doping test. Suspended until July 2017, Jones has not fought since April this year, when he crashed Ovince St Preux.
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