Jon Jones determined to finish his retirement simply two weeks after it began due to the announcement from President Donald Trump that he was planning to host a UFC occasion on the White Home in 2026. Sadly for Jones, it seems he could not even find yourself with a spot on that card.
Whereas preparations for the occasion are underway, UFC CEO Dana White has repeatedly said he’s not even considering matchmaking but as a result of the cardboard continues to be a yr away. That mentioned, White’s hesitation to have Jones headline that individual occasion isn’t based mostly across the chance he might probably compete for a title after which instantly retire once more afterwards.
As a substitute, White factors to Jones’ checkered previous as the rationale why he can’t belief placing Jones on the prime of such a historic present.
“It’s not even about him successful the belt,” White mentioned about Jones on the UFC 318 post-fight press convention. “You know the way I felt about him. I simply can’t threat placing him in massive positions in a giant spot and have one thing go mistaken, particularly the White Home card.”
Whereas Jones is broadly thought of the best fighter of all-time, it’s troublesome to disregard the occasions that had been altered by him not having the ability to compete.
White by no means forgot about Jones passing on a matchup in opposition to Chael Sonnen on quick discover when his unique opponent Dan Henderson obtained injured, which led to the cancellation of UFC 151.
In 2015, Jones was stripped of his title and suspended after he was concerned in a hit-and-run automobile accident simply weeks earlier than he was scheduled to face Anthony “Rumble” Johnson at UFC 187. Jones finally returned and was then scheduled for a rematch in opposition to Daniel Cormier at UFC 200, however that struggle was scrapped after Jones examined optimistic for a banned substance.
Extra not too long ago, Jones suffered a torn pectoral muscle getting ready for a struggle in opposition to Stipe Miocic, which led to their matchup being delayed by a full yr earlier than it really occurred.
That historical past weighs heavy on White’s thoughts in the case of Jones probably returning to motion and headlining an occasion just like the one deliberate for the White Home through the America 250 celebration in 2026.
White doubled down on not addressing any fights or fighters for that card as a result of it’s too early to start out planning for the lineup. For now, White is staying centered on the logistics of how you can stage a UFC struggle on the grounds of the White Home and he’ll fear about matchmaking at a a lot later date.
“That struggle’s a yr away,” White mentioned. “So I’m not fascinated by something proper now. The panorama will change a lot by subsequent 4th of July, who is aware of what’s going to occur. Who is aware of who’s going to be on the cardboard. What the principle occasion shall be or who will maintain all of the titles. Every thing could possibly be utterly completely different so it’s not even value fascinated by it proper now.”
