UFC chief Dana White has found himself embroiled in a feud with iconic fighter Jon Jones over his desire to fight at Donald Trump’s White House card.
The president revealed earlier this month that he planned to host a fight card on July 4 next year to celebrate the United States’ 250th birthday.
And Jones has seemingly reversed his June retirement following that announcement, as he expressed his interest in fighting on the White House lawn and told TMZ that he had a ‘strong feeling’ he’d be participating.
The fighter made no secret of his positive feelings toward Trump in November, when he handed the president his heavyweight title belt following his win over Stipe Miocic at Madison Square Garden.
On Saturday, though, White firmly poured cold water on the idea that Jones would be fighting at the White House next summer.
‘It’s not even about him winning the belt,’ White told reporters at the UFC 318 post-fight press conference.
Jon Jones has expressed interest in fighting on the White House lawn on July 4 next year. He handed his heavyweight belt to President Donald Trump after winning a fight in November.
But Dana White poured cold water on that idea on Saturday as he spoke from UFC 318
Jones is considered a legendary UFC fighter but has had a string of issues out of the ring
‘You know how I felt about him. I just can’t risk putting him in big positions in a big spot and have something go wrong, especially the White House card.’
Jones, 38, vacated the heavyweight title belt in June when he suddenly retired before a planned future fight against Tom Aspinall.
And the legendary fighter, who has missed other fights due to legal issues and drug suspensions, said on Sunday that he was ‘disappointed’ with White’s remarks.
‘I heard the comments made at last night’s press conference. While I was a little disappointed, I’m still in the UFC’s drug testing pool, staying sharp, and continuing to train like a professional. I’ll be ready for whatever comes next,’ Jones wrote on X.
‘In a recent interview, I shared that the opportunity to fight at the White House gave me something deeper to fight for, a ‘why’ that goes beyond paychecks or belts. Fighting for my country gives me a greater purpose!
‘The silver lining in all this is knowing the fans see my heart. They see, I am ready and willing to take on anyone, to represent my country on a historic stage. For me, it’s never been just about the opponent. I’m chasing legacy, something timeless, something bigger than the moment,’ he continued.
‘So for now, I’ll keep grinding, stay patient, and stay faithful. I’m ready to fight on July 4th.’
In separate posts, Jones said that he likely wouldn’t fight again if it wasn’t on the White House card, but called it ‘understandable’ that White would have his reservations about selecting him for the event.
Trump, seen with White at UFC 314 in Miami, has become a fixture at UFC fights
Trump sat ringside at UFC 309 at Madison Square Garden last year and met Jones
In 2016, Jones was pulled off the UFC 200 card after testing positive for clomiphene and letrozole (resulting in a year suspension), and he also received a 15-month ban the following year after testing positive for an anabolic steroid.
Jones has also had a litany of legal issues, including a hit-and-run arrest in 2015, while his rejection of a short-notice fight against Chael Sonnen in 2012 resulted in the cancellation of UFC 151 (his scheduled opponent, Dan Henderson, pulled out with an injury towards the end of Jones’ training).
In that instance, White blasted Jones publicly and said it was ‘one of the most selfish, disgusting decisions that doesn’t just affect you.
‘This is affecting 16 other lives, their families, kids are going back to school. The list goes on and on of all the things, the money that was spent for fighters to train and the list goes on and on. Like I said, I don’t think this is going to make Jon Jones popular with the fans, sponsors, cable distributors, television network executives or other fighters,’ White said.
Nonetheless, White called Jones ‘pound-for-pound best fighter in the world’ after his fight in November, and it certainly sounds like he’ll be staying ready should his boss change his mind with regards to July 4, 2026.
