“Bones” was never going to fight on the South Lawn.
When UFC White House — also known as Freedom 250 — was announced during the UFC 326 broadcast, one notable name was missing: Jon Jones. That omission raised eyebrows because the former two-division champion had previously claimed he was in negotiations to possibly compete on the historic card.
According to UFC CEO Dana White, however, that was never the case.
“Never, ever, ever — which I told you guys 100,000 times — was Jon Jones ever even remotely
in my mind to fight at the White House,” White told reporters during the UFC 326 post-fight press conference (watch here). “First of all, I told you why I wouldn’t do it, and second, some dude filmed him talking about his hips and that his hips are so bad. I don’t know if you saw that flag football game where he could barely run. Jon Jones retired because of his hips. He’s got arthritis in his hips. Apparently, doctors say he should have hip replacements. So add that to all the other reasons why I wouldn’t.”
When asked directly whether Jones was one of the fights that reportedly fell off the card, White doubled down.
“The Jon Jones thing is bullsh—t,” White said. “I’m not saying they weren’t talking to Jon Jones and that Jon Jones wasn’t interested in the fight. What was even crazier was Jon Jones came out and was like, ‘I’m in negotiations right now for the White House card,’ after I had already sent a text to his lawyer saying, ‘Never going to happen ever.’”
White even went as far as to say it’s “very fair” to assume Jones is 100 percent retired from competing inside the Octagon again.
To checkout the complete UFC White House card and lineup click here.
