President Trump shouldn’t expect to see former UFC heavyweight champion Jon Jones at next year’s planned White House fights. Dana White, the UFC CEO who is planning the event, gave “billion-to-1” odds that Jones would be included on the July 4 card.
“I would not bet on it,” White said on Saturday night after UFC 319 in Chicago. “If I had to make odds, it’s a billion-to-1 odds I put Jon Jones on the White House card.”
Jones officially retired in June after opting against a championship unification fight with fellow heavyweight champ Tom Aspinall.
But Jones quickly reversed course and entered the UFC’s drug testing program when he learned about plans to host a mixed martial arts event on the White House’s South Lawn on July 4 for next year’s semiquincentennial — the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.
White has said he can’t trust Jones enough to put him on the White House card, though.
“I just can’t risk putting him in big positions in a big spot and have something go wrong,” the UFC president said at a press conference last month.
Jones has been suspended for doping violations and currently faces criminal charges over an alleged hit-and-run. Regardless, the heavyweight said he’s ready for the opportunity to fight in the District.
“I’m still in the UFC’s drug testing pool, staying sharp, and continuing to train like a professional. I’ll be ready for whatever comes next,” the 38-year-old Jones wrote on X last month. “The opportunity to fight at the White House gave me something deeper to fight for, a ’why’ that goes beyond paychecks or belts. Fighting for my country gives me a greater purpose!”
White has not said who will headline the planned White House event. He is expected to visit the District later this month to discuss plans with President Trump.
• Liam Griffin can be reached at lgriffin@washingtontimes.com.
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