Jon Jones admits it hurts to have missed out on a historic UFC event this past summer.
Jones (28-1 MMA, 22-1 UFC) hasn't competed since finishing Stipe Miocic to retain his heavyweight title at UFC 309 in November 2024. He got to put another marquee name on his resume, and celebrate with President Donald Trump who was in attendance.
Hard to top a final-career moment like that for the former UFC dual-champion, who is widely regarded as the greatest of all time.
"I really do believe that was my last moment inside the cage – and it was great," Jones told The Schmo. "I got to fight, my brother was still alive at the time, my father was there. I got to tell the world that I love Jesus, and that will never change. I got to salute our President.
"I'm not
huge into politics, but to have your president there, whether you're Democrat or Republican, is massive. So honestly, I don't think it gets much better than that. Stipe Miocic was considered the greatest heavyweight of all time. You know, we're both older, but to defeat him, I don't really see how it can get bigger than that."
However, upon the announcement of the UFC White House event, Jones re-entered the drug-testing pool in hopes of being part of this past June's event. Jones claimed he was in negotiations to compete at UFC Freedom 250, which Dana White heavily pushed back on and vehemently denied.
"There was the White House card," Jones said. "That was one of the few nights in my career where I just was thinking, 'I should have been there.' I usually don't regret decisions, but that was one of my big regrets in life, not being a part of the White House. But if I never fight again, I think I'm pretty damn happy."
This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: Jon Jones: Not fighting at White House 'one of my big regrets in life'
