Jon Jones Reveals he Was Offered Fight On UFC White House Card

Former UFC heavyweight champion Jon Jones (28-1, 1 NC) said this week he was offered a fight on the promotion’s historic White House event on June 14 but turned it down after failing to agree contractual terms.

Jones, 39, said negotiations with UFC CEO Dana White failed to produce an agreement, leaving him with one of the few regrets of his career.

“Man, to watch the boys walk out from, you know, the Oval Office and Donald Trump being there and everything. It was one of the few times in my life where I just, I knew I should not be home on this night,” Jones said. “I should have been out there.”

“It’s one of my small regrets that I have to live with forever,” he added.

White has previously disputed Jones’ account, insisting the former two-division champion was never seriously considered for the event because of concerns over his physical condition.

The card was headlined by Justin Gaethje’s lightweight championship victory over Ilia Topuria. Gaethje beat Topuria after four rounds of one-sided action. Other results included Ciryl Gane’s second-round knockout win over Alex Pereira and Sean O’Malley’s second-round knockout over Aiemann Zahabi.

Jones, meanwhile, has not competed since stopping Stipe Miocic in November 2024. He announced his retirement in June 2025 and has recently suggested he may never fight again.