Former UFC two-division champion Jon Jones has asked the promotion to release him if they feel he has nothing more to offer.
Jones vacated his heavyweight championship in 2025 and retired rather than face Tom Aspinall in a title unification clash. White, on the other hand, had promised fans that Jones would face Aspinall in 2025, but Jones’ actions and unreliability left White seriously frustrated.
However, when the UFC announced the White House event, “Bones” jumped back in the testing pool and showed interest in locking horns with Alex Pereira.
Although White was never game to book Jones vs. Pereira for the White House card, over the past few months, Jones and Pereira had shown constant interest in fighting each other on June 14, and called each other out nonstop.
Earlier this month, Alex Pereira vacated his light heavyweight throne and moved up to 265 pounds. At the same time, “Bones” claimed he’s in negotiations with the UFC to fight at the White House.
However, after the UFC Freedom 250 card was announced, it was clear that Jones isn’t fighting on June 14. Pereira, on the other hand, will lock horns with Ciryl Gane in the co-main event for the interim UFC heavyweight championship.
This past weekend, at the UFC 326 post-fight presser, Dana White stated that the UFC brass had never been in negotiations with Jon Jones and that the latter is retired due to severe arthritis in his left hip, for which he will soon need a hip replacement.
Check out Dana White’s comments about Jon Jones below:
Jon Jones asks Dana White to release him from the UFC, says he was in active negotiations to fight at the White House
Yesterday, Jon Jones via X responded to Dana White’s comments and claimed that he and his manager were in real negotiations with the UFC, so that he could fight on the White House card, but were lowballed in the end.
Hey everyone, I wanted to address Dana White’s comments from this past weekend, because the truth matters to me and the fans. Dana, you were heated about why I’m not on the White House card, but let’s clear something up. My team and I were actually negotiating with the UFC for that fight. Real negotiations. I even came down from my original number, and what was I offered in return? I was lowballed.”
“Bones” added that although he has arthritis, he was game to fight at the White House and, most recently, received stem cell treatment.
Yes, I have arthritis in my hip and it’s painful, but that doesn’t mean I can’t fight. So let me get this straight, if I had accepted the lowball offer, suddenly my hip would be fine and I’d be on the White House card? That doesn’t make sense. I even received stem cell treatment last week to get ready for the White House card, and training camp was scheduled to start today. I was preparing to be ready.
In this statement, Jones revealed that this past Friday, the UFC reached out to him to fight at the White House for a considerably smaller payday and alleged that whatever White said about him at the presser was not true.
I understand business deals fall through sometimes, but going out publicly and saying things that aren’t true isn’t right. After everything I’ve given to the UFC , the years, the title defenses, the fights , hearing that I’m “done” is disappointing. Especially when as recently as Friday UFC was calling me trying to get me on that White House card for a much lower number.”
Lastly, Jon Jones urged the promotion to release him:
If the UFC truly feels like I’m done, then I respectfully ask to be released from my contract today. No more spins, no more games. Thank you to the real fans who know what’s up. Bones out.”
Check out Jon Jones’ statement below:
