UFC President Dana White has said he cannot risk having former heavyweight champion Jon Jones compete at the promotion’s planned event at the White House.
He was speaking at the press conference after Saturday’s UFC 318 pay-per-view.
White said, “I just, I can’t risk putting him in big positions and a big spot and have something go wrong…especially the White House card.”
Jones, 38, told TMZ Sports this week, “I have a very strong feeling that I’ll be fighting that night, for sure.” He also indicated that he would like to fight whoever is the UFC Heavyweight Champion at the time of the event.
When asked about this possibility, White said, “It’s not even about him winning the belt. I mean, you know how I felt about him,” before appearing to rule out Jones’ involvement.
White added that he had not put much thought into booking the 2026 event, as “The landscape will change so much by next Fourth of July.” He indicated that he was more focused on the practical logistics of putting on a card at the White House.
Jon Jones is currently embroiled in a criminal investigation stemming from a car crash in Albuquerque, New Mexico, which occurred in February.
The proposed UFC event is intended to be part of the United States’ 250th anniversary celebrations.
