Jon Jones can kiss his goals of combating on the White Home goodbye.
Earlier this month, U.S. President Donald Trump made headlines when he introduced that he would host a UFC combat card on the White Home garden in 2026 to commemorate the nation’s 250th birthday. At first, it appeared like one other wild-eyed declare from the embattled POTUS. Nevertheless, UFC CEO Dana White later revealed that the promotion was certainly working to place collectively an occasion at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.
From that second, each fighter beneath the UFC banner got here out of the woodwork, declaring their need to compete on the history-making occasion. That features Jon Jones, who reduce quick his retirement and jumped proper again into the testing pool in hopes of combating in Washington, D.C.
Sadly for Jones, that received’t be taking place.
“With Jon Jones—he says he needs to be on [the White House card], too,” White stated throughout the UFC 318 post-fight press convention. “However I simply can’t threat placing him in huge positions, in an enormous spot, and have one thing go improper. Particularly the White Home card.”
With a hefty rap sheet and a yr of ducking Tom Aspinall, it ought to come as no shock that White doesn’t wish to threat placing ‘Bones’ on such an enormous card just for him to start out headbutting police vehicles forward of combat night time.
Jon Jones reacts to Dana White
For sure, Jones was upset after listening to the information.
“I heard the feedback made eventually night time’s press convention,” Jones wrote on X. “Whereas I used to be somewhat upset, I’m nonetheless within the UFC’s drug-testing pool, staying sharp, and persevering with to coach like an expert. I’ll be prepared for no matter comes subsequent.
“In a current interview, I shared that the chance to combat on the White Home gave me one thing deeper to combat for, a ‘why’ that goes past paychecks or belts. Preventing for my nation offers me a larger objective!
“The silver lining in all that is understanding the followers see my coronary heart. They see, I’m prepared and prepared to tackle anybody, to signify my nation on a historic stage. For me, it’s by no means been simply in regards to the opponent. I’m chasing legacy, one thing timeless, one thing greater than the second. So for now, I’ll hold grinding, keep affected person, and keep trustworthy. I’m able to combat on July 4th.”
That final bit about being “prepared and prepared to tackle anybody” triggered fairly the ruckus on social media.
