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Dana White Shuts Down Jon Jones White House Card Ambitions

Originally posted on Dice City Sports | By Robert LaMar | Last updated Aug 17, 2025 1:43 PM ET

Despite Jon Jones’ stated desire to compete on the UFC’s historic White House event in 2026, UFC CEO Dana White made it clear after UFC 319 that it won’t happen. Jones, 38, announced his retirement in June rather than face interim champion Tom Aspinall in a heavyweight unification bout. Weeks later, he reversed course. Claiming the UFC’s planned July 4, 2026 card at the White House part of the United States’ 250th anniversary inspired him to return.

White, however, dismissed the idea outright:
“I would not bet on it. If I had to make odds, it’s a billion-to-1 odds I put Jon Jones on the White House card.”

Citing Jones’ history of unreliability, White pointed to a series of incidents multiple title strips, legal issues including a 2015 felony hit-and-run arrest, and a last-minute doping violation that derailed UFC 200. Most recently, Jones was charged with leaving the scene of an accident in February.

While Jones has reentered the UFC’s mandatory drug testing program in hopes of competing on the card, White stressed he has no plans to include him. Other stars, including Conor McGregor, have already expressed interest in fighting on the White House stage, but White said he won’t finalize names until 2025.

Dana White says the odds are “a billion to one” that Jon Jones headlines the UFC White House card pic.twitter.com/B9OSqxokCf

— Championship Rounds (@ChampRDS) August 17, 2025

Can Dana Really Keep A Motivated Active Jones Out?

Yes, we’re still under a year away from the UFC’s unprecedented White House event. But if history has shown us anything, the fight game moves fast. Between now and July 4, 2026, Jon Jones could easily recapture the heavyweight championship he relinquished. If that happens, Dana White’s “billion-to-1 odds” comment may not age well.

Because here’s the truth. If Jon Jones is active, motivated, and wearing UFC gold. It will be impossible to justify leaving him off such a historic card. Jones has already made it clear that fighting at the White House is on his personal bucket list. For all his controversies, when Jon sets his mind to something in the Octagon, he usually finds a way.

Add in the fact that Jones remains widely regarded as the greatest fighter in MMA history, and the storyline writes itself. The GOAT returning for one more monumental showcase on the sport’s biggest stage. Fans, media, and likely even politicians would demand his presence.

As long as Jon Jones is fighting in 2025–26, it’s hard to imagine a White House UFC event without him.

This article first appeared on Dice City Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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