Jon Jones Wants To Prove He’s Serious About White House UFC Card For 2026

Don’t count Jon Jones out of the upcoming “America 250” White House PPV card, because he himself sure hasn’t. ‘Bones’ in recent times seems more and more unlikely to be a name for the once-in-a-lifetime mega card. But the ex-UFC HW means to prove naysayers and UFC bossman Dana White wrong.

Jon Jones’ relationship with Dana White took major damage points when the fighter retired instead of a PPV title unifier against Tom Aspinall. However, he took to socials to quip that his retirement was short-lived and did a walkback in just 2 weeks. intrigued by the news of the White House UFC card.

During the Saudi GEA #CaneloVsCrawford Kickoff media presser, White said that UFC Execs were down with Jones’ PPV compensatory ask (somewhere around $12-30 million), but he took a U-Turn and retired. Ever since, the UFC CEO has said he doesn’t trust Jones to not do the same and deliver on such a mega card. He even gave him a ‘billion to one’ meteoric odds to overcome, saying he won’t make a return.

White had told an Aspinall vs. Jones PPV Heavyweight showdown was his #1 White House fight, but then shut it down immediately, due to the latter’s (apparent) unreliability. That hasn’t deterred the 38-year-old from dreaming of such a comeback. During a recent MTV VMAs media one-on-one, Jones said he’s still training for it. Now, he adds more details:

I feel freakin tremendous, I, I’m training constantly [for it], the brand is in a great place, doing really cool things…And, and just happy to be here; I don’t know [about a White House fight]…I’m definitely training constantly for the opportunity my goal is to just show Dana how serious I am about being on the event and I hope he chooses me, but ultimately it’s in his hands.

Jon Jones to MMA Junkie at the MTV VMAs media one-on-one; H/T: @USATODAYSports

The EX-ufc champ tagged it a “good sign” that he was part of the production and show at the 2025 MTV Music Awards, and is still recognizable as an industry giant. The one-of-a-kind event needs 1/1 fighters in the lineup, and Jones is consensus GOAT for many.

Former two-division champ and brand superstar Conor McGregor has also pitched in his name for the South Lawn fight. “Money Mac” remains the biggest draw, with the five biggest pay-per-view incomes, and makes sense for such a card. At this time, McGregor also has an opponent lined up for it; Michael Chandler waited two years to complete their TUF: Season 31 saga until the Irishman pulled out during UFC 303 PPV kickoff pressers.

Jon Jones vows to show Dana White "how serious I am" about UFC White House fight.

(via @usatodaysports) pic.twitter.com/hrTeYx2VaT

— MMA Junkie (@MMAJunkie) September 10, 2025

Chandler also supported the POTUS with endearing messages of reinforcement during his 34-Count Felony Trial Conviction for hush money payments, for falsifying NYC business records. Chandler already sent out a tweet, hinting at “Unfinished business,” hinting at such a fight at Donald Trump’s residence and he’s a good bet for it.

Jones could have had that, too, in Aspinall, and one UFC analyst questions why Bones recanted his MMA retirement at all, if not for that fight.

UFC Legend questions why Jon Jones is returning if not for Tom Aspinall HW Showdown

Former UFC title challenger and current analyst/MMA’s ‘Bad Guy’ Chael Sonnen has expressed a certain degree of perplexity regarding the circumstances surrounding Jones. Jones has amped up talks to be on the UFC’s White House card next June, but he remains a contentious case as ever.

Sonnen fought Jon Jones for the light heavyweight title in 2013, and even coached opposite him on ‘The Ultimate Fighter 17’. Ever since, the two have had some tinge of untasteful banter and Sonnen has taken creative liberties to explain Bones and his multiple pitfalls.

With Jones calling his retirement, Tom Aspinall is now the default UFC heavyweight champion. He has moved on and called it a day on such a fight. Not an ‘interim’ titleholder anymore, he makes a title defense at the UFC 321: Aspinall vs. Gane PPV main event, October 25th.

So if not for Aspinall… Why’s Jones pushing for such a fight, and who’d be his opponent for the White House card? That is exactly what Sonnen is asking.

If Jon says that he’s back and he was never injured, he was never ill… he just didn’t want to fight Tom Aspinall [is why]…That’s the part to me that’s a little bit weird. He’s playing this as though that retirement never happened [like] as opposed to his comeback [for White House]; If you’re coming back, what are you coming back for? What is it that you’re coming back to? …It’s just an open slate: Anybody but him [Aspinall]? Is that how we’re supposed to interpret this?

Chael Sonnen on the ‘Good Guy/Bad Guy’ Podcast (@ESPNMMA)| Bull$#!t Meter! + Who could be Khamzat’s Kryptonite? [FULL SHOW]

Sonnen doubts that Jones, who is 38 years old, is training five days a week as he claims. During the same segment, he billed Jones’ training routine as total ‘BS’ and that Bones isn’t posting his usual training snippets on IG or other handles. Only time will tell how much of it is true, and if Jones can make it to the South Lawn for a future fight.

ALSO READ: Jon Jones Says He’s ‘Unretired’, Still Training For ‘Billion To One’ Parlay White House Showdown