Jon Jones in all probability couldn’t save the UFC’s underwhelming White House card if he were included, but Dana White insists it was never going to occur anyway.
Jones wished the headline spot, but it went to Ilia Topuria and Justin Gaethje instead.
This is what battle followers are to expect on the June 14 card, titled Freedom 250, not Jones. And it was never going to be Jones — White wished to make that clear.
”Never, ever, ever, which I instructed you guys 100,000 instances was Jon Jones even remotely in my thoughts to battle at the White House,” White said at the UFC 326 post-fight press convention Saturday evening. “First of all, I’ve told you why I wouldn’t do it, and No. 2 some guy with Meta glasses on filmed him talking about his hips, that his hips are so bad, and I don’t know if you guys saw that flag football game where he can barely run.”
The UFC president added, “Jon Jones, he retired because of his hips. He’s got arthritis in his hips, apparently doctors say he should have [a] hip replacement. … That on top of all the other reasons that I wouldn’t (put him on the White House card). The Jon Jones thing is bulls–t.”
UFC CEO and President Dana White speaks during the UFC 326 occasion at T-Mobile Arena on March 7, 2026 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Zuffa LLC
The UFC had allegedly been making an attempt to put collectively Jones against Alex Pereira, who is arguably the greatest star in the firm and is making the transfer to heavyweight after profitable titles in the mild heavyweight and middleweight divisions.
Both sides said they wished this bout.
White also appeared to point out that the curiosity for Jones collaborating in the White House card wasn’t as desired as was publicly reported.
“I’m not saying they weren’t talking to Jon Jones and Jon Jones wasn’t interested in the fight,” White continued. “What’s even crazier is Jon Jones came out and was like ‘I’m in negotiations right now for the White House fight’ after I had already sent a text to his lawyer saying, ‘never going to happen, ever.’”
What’s noteworthy is that Pereira is truly slated to compete on the card, in a match-up with perennial heavyweight contender Ciryl Gane in his debut in the weight class.
The bout — which will serve as the occasion’s co-featured attraction — will be for the division’s interim heavyweight title.
Jon Jones last competed on November 16, 2024 at UFC 309, defeating Stipe Miocic via TKO. Zuffa LLC
The present UFC Heavyweight champion, Tom Aspinall — who has also been linked to a doable battle with Jones in the previous, which Jones is credibly accused of ducking — hasn’t competed since October due to an eye damage suffered in a title protection against Gane.
Aspinall just signed a administration deal with White’s rival in Eddie Hearn’s firm, Matchroom, leaving his UFC and presumably blended martial arts future in the air.
This came in response to the UFC CEO signing former Matchroom boxer Conor Benn to a one-fight, $15 million deal with White’s Zuffa Boxing enterprise.
As for Jones, if he is in reality retired, the 38-year-old Rochester, New York native would finish his profession as one of the greatest ever in MMA, even despite his varied wrongdoings away from the octagon, which contains an intensive arrest file and other offenses.
Jones, in the octagon, holds a 28-1 file, with the one loss being a controversial disqualification, also including 11 knockouts and seven submissions.
In the UFC, he’s been a mild heavyweight champion twice and a heavyweight champion once, holding varied data and wins over other all-timers, highlighted by Daniel Cormier, Mauricio “Shogun” Rua and Alexander Gustafsson.
Jones last fought in November 2024 at Madison Square Garden, beating former champion Stipe Miocic by TKO in one of his only two fights since February 2020.
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