LAS VEGAS — What could have been one of the most historic moments in combat sports history has instead turned into another chapter in the long-running tension between Jon Jones and the UFC. Jones claims he was ready and willing to headline the UFC’s planned June 14 card at the White House. The UFC says he was never even in consideration. Somewhere in the middle lies a story that speaks to money, trust, and a fractured relationship between one of the sport’s greatest fighters and its most powerful promoter.
Jones took to social media to push back on the narrative, insisting that he was actively negotiating to be part of the White House event even at a reduced payday.
“Was ready, willing and physically able to step in,” Jones wrote. “I was willing to take substantially less than the Aspinall ask but they wouldn’t budge one dollar over $15 million. I felt like our fight was worth more.”
The former heavyweight champion’s comments suggest negotiations stalled over financial terms, with Jones believing a marquee fight particularly against a name like Alex Pereira demanded a bigger purse. Notably, Jones was previously linked to a reported $30 million offer for a heavyweight title unification bout against Tom Aspinall a fight that ultimately never materialized before his brief retirement.
Dana White Fires Back Hard
UFC CEO Dana White didn’t just disagree he shut the door completely. “Never, ever, ever… was Jon Jones even remotely in my mind to fight at the White House,” White said following UFC 326.
White pointed to multiple concerns, including Jones’ injury history and reliability. “He retired because of his hips… he’s got arthritis… doctors say he should have hip replacements,” White added. “That on top of all the other reasons… The Jon Jones thing is bullshit.”
The comments reflect deeper issues than just one fight signaling a lack of trust that has built over years of canceled bouts, legal troubles, and outside-the-cage controversies.
The proposed matchup Jones vs. Alex Pereira would have been one of the biggest cross-divisional fights the UFC could make. Instead, the promotion pivoted. The UFC is now targeting Pereira vs. Ciryl Gane for an interim heavyweight title fight on the White House card, shifting focus away from Jones entirely.
Jones didn’t just dispute White’s version of events he escalated the situation. At one point, he reportedly asked for his release from the UFC, signaling just how far apart the two sides have grown. For a fighter widely considered one of the greatest of all time, being publicly dismissed from a historic card only adds fuel to an already complicated legacy.
Alex Pereira Eyes Heavyweight Legacy And a Future Clash With Jon Jones
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Robert LaMar is a Deputy Editor for Dice City Sports. You can follow him on X via @RobertLaMar26
