Is Jones vs Stipe really a money fight?

[blaseblase]

Theres this narrative being spread that Jones is fighting Stipe because it's the money fight. Is it though? When Stipe was champion he wasn't that popular. His ppvs did between 300 to 400k buys. Completely average, even when heavily promoted.

Remember how how much marketing they did for Stipe vs Ngannou 1? This was when Dana said the infamous Ford Escort quote. The event only did 380k. Meanwhile UFC 295 just became the fourth highest grossing UFC event in history.

UFC 295 announced as fourth highest-grossing PPV event in UFC history, becomes second highest-grossing event ever at Madison Square Garden

UFC 295 proved to be one of the most exciting events of the year as it provided several memorable moments throughout the night on November 11.

www.sportskeeda.com

I think if you put Tom Aspinall in the UK it's the bigger fight. The entire MMA fan base acknowledges Jones vs Aspinall is the better fight to make.

 

[NoBiasJustMMA]

It probably is, casuals are the majority of the fan base and they are always behind on who the best current fighters are.

 

[blaseblase]

It probably is, casuals are the majority of the fan base and they are always behind on who the best current fighters are.

But they weren't lining up to see Stipe when he was the champion. Now he's been retired for 3 years and coming off a brutal KO loss.

 

[The Bloody Nine]

Who is saying Jones vs Stipe is a money fight?

 

[markg171]

You do realize most of the tickets for UFC 295 were purchased when Jon vs Stipe was headlining it, right?

 

[The Boomerang]

I think if you put Tom Aspinall in the UK it's the bigger fight. The entire MMA fan base acknowledges Jones vs Aspinall is the better fight to make.

No one outside of the the hardcore mma fanbase knows what the fook a Aspinall is here In the UK

 

[NoBiasJustMMA]

But they weren't lining up to see Stipe when he was the champion. Now he's been retired for 3 years and coming off a brutal KO loss.

Both are still much bigger names than anyone else in HW MMA among the casuals and that's where most of the money comes from.

 

[The Boomerang]

It’s not about money

Jones wants Stipe’s name on his resume

 

[blaseblase]

WA

Both are still much bigger names than anyone else in HW MMA among the casuals and that's where most of the money comes from.

His last PPV sold like shit

UFC 260 Earns Lowest Ratings of 2021 for Pay-Per-View Prelims

Though the event was headlined by a heavyweight championship bout, the UFC 260 prelims didn’t do a huge number in the ratings department.

www.sherdog.com

 

[RoyJonesJr]

It was until Tom took the belt

Now it will look silly to even the casuals. Before I actually thought the fight made sense, Jones & Stipe doing one legacy send off fight before retiring since both earned it.


But now with Top taking the belt might as well just have Jones vs Tom then retire

 

[NoBiasJustMMA]

WA


His last PPV sold like shit

UFC 260 Earns Lowest Ratings of 2021 for Pay-Per-View Prelims

Though the event was headlined by a heavyweight championship bout, the UFC 260 prelims didn’t do a huge number in the ratings department.

www.sherdog.com

So does pretty much any HWs not named Jones.

 

[Tweak896]

Stipe and Jones sell more PPVs than any other HWs by a long shot.

 

[markg171]

I love how TS is spinning this to present Tom as the popular one even though the event wasn't even headlined by Tom but by Pereira.

Who per the numbers was also responsible for the last successful MSG card too.

But sure, it's the co-main guy who fought on 10 days notice.

 

[Fight Professor]

No, it is a legacy fight.

 

[blaseblase]

So does pretty much any HWs not named Jones.

Jones did big numbers against Gane. If he can do that, a fight with Aspinall would be even more massive, champ vs champ.

https://www.si.com/fannation/mma/news/jon-jones-return-at-ufc-285-was-a-huge-ppv-success

I'm not seeing what Stipe brings to the table. 41, retired for 3 years, coming off a brutal KO loss, wasn't a PPV draw in his prime.

 

[NoBiasJustMMA]

Jones did big numbers against Gane. If he can do that, a fight with Aspinall would be even more massive, champ vs champ.

https://www.si.com/fannation/mma/news/jon-jones-return-at-ufc-285-was-a-huge-ppv-success

I'm not seeing what Stipe brings to the table. 41, retired for 3 years, coming off a brutal KO loss, wasn't a PPV draw in his prime.

Jones is the draw in any match up he has. I don’t think Aspinall is a bigger draw than Stipe is yet. Most casuals I know don't know who Aspinall is, they know who Stipe is.

 

[moreorless87]

I think its more that Dana tends to be a fanboy for his favoured fighters.

 

[blaseblase]

Jones is the draw in any match up he has. I don’t think Aspinall is a bigger draw than Stipe is yet. Most casuals I know don't know who Aspinall is, they know who Stipe is.

Stipe isn't a draw, what is he bringing to the table? Again, 41, retired for 3 years, coming off a brutal KO loss AND WASNT EVEN A DRAW IN HIS PRIME.

Make the Jones/Aspinall fight. It's the most important and relevant to the division. Isn't Aspinall supposed to be the future of the division? This is THE guy who is going to be main eventing PPVs in the future. He has all the talent and potential in the world. Let him fight Jones.

 

[OldBoy91]

Jones is the draw in any match up he has. I don’t think Aspinall is a bigger draw than Stipe is yet. Most casuals I know don't know who Aspinall is, they know who Stipe is.

Who cares though?.
As a fan of the sport I want to see the best fight, not which fight puts slightly more money in Dana's pocket.

There aren't many reasons why a fan of the sport wouldn't want to see the champ defend the belt against the best and most deserving competition available. Stipe fits neither of those criteria.

Only Dana, Jon and Jon's fanboys want to see him fight old man Miocic.

 

[NoBiasJustMMA]

Stipe isn't a draw, what is he bringing to the table? Again, 41, retired for 3 years, coming off a brutal KO loss AND WASNT EVEN A DRAW IN HIS PRIME.

Make the Jones/Aspinall fight. It's the most important and relevant to the division. Isn't Aspinall supposed to be the future of the division? This is THE guy who is going to be main eventing PPVs in the future. He has all the talent and potential in the world. Let him fight Jones.

Stipe is well known among casual fans and that's where most of the money comes from. Most casual fans don't know who Aspinall is. Do you have any numbers from when Aspinall was in the main event. You can't have a solid argument about this comparison one way or the other unless you have numbers from both fighters as headliners till then your dealing with an incomplete picture and are assuming other fighters are bigger draws than Stipe without any evidence to prove it.