Dana White Dismisses Talk Of Jon Jones Fighting At The White House

Dana White has shut down speculation that Jon Jones could headline a UFCcard at the White House. Speaking at the UFC 318 post‑fight press conference, the UFC president made it clear that while Jones remains one of the greatest talents in the sport, he is not prepared to take the gamble of placing him in such a monumental event.

Dana White Pours Cold Water On Jon Jones Headlining White House Event

Rumors had swirled for weeks after U.S. President Donald Trump announced plans to stage a UFC event at the White House to celebrate America’s 250th anniversary. Jones even re‑entered the UFC’s anti‑doping testing pool, fueling hopes that he might take part. But White put an end to the speculation with one firm statement:

“I can’t risk putting him in big positions, in a big spot and have something go wrong. Especially the White House card.”

White has long championed Jones as one of the sport’s biggest draws and greatest fight, but his words revealed a cautious approach. The UFC boss refrained from direct criticism and has not expressed his disappointment in the Jones vs. Aspinall fight never coming to fruition. Jones also found himself in some more legal trouble shortly after he retired.

Jones–Aspinall Fight Was ‘Guaranteed,’ Then Plans Shifted

Interestingly, White also confirmed that a Jon Jones vs. Tom Aspinall heavyweight title bout had been in the works and even guaranteed it will happen. Jones trolled UFC fans for several months with cryptic stances on his fighting future while holding up the division.

However, after supposedly agreeing to the fight, Jones informed the UFC that he intended to retire. That decision forced the company to move forward without him and elevate Aspinall to undisputed champion, until Trump’s White House announcement briefly pulled Jones back into the conversation.

Despite Jones’ return to the testing pool, White’s latest comments show where he stands with the former heavyweight champion. For now, Dana White’s message is clear: When it comes to Jon Jones and fighting at the most iconic address in the United States, it’s simply not worth the gamble of having him headline the card.

However, the UFC’s biggest star, Conor McGregor, pulled out of his return fight last year due to a broken toe. As White stated, it is way too early to speculate on the UFC White House fight card due to the unpredictable nature of the sport.