Jon Jones and Dana White are telling two completely different stories about the UFC White House card, and this one has quickly become one of the biggest business storylines in MMA right now.
Jones says he was in real negotiations, physically preparing for camp, and willing to come down from his previous financial ask. White says Jones was never truly in consideration for that event. Both men are speaking publicly. Both are doubling down.
Jones wrote that he was prepared to fight but the UFC did not move above a specific number.
“Was ready, willing and physically able to step in. I was willing to take substantially less than the Aspinall ask but they wouldn’t budge one dollar over $15 [million]. I felt like our fight was worth more.”
was ready, willing and physically able to step in. I was willing to take substantially less than the Aspinall ask but they wouldn’t budge one dollar over $15m. I felt like our fight was worth more. https://t.co/u9ISd2bD07
— Jonny Meat (@JonnyBones) March 21, 2026
In a longer message, Jones said negotiations were active and called the final offer a lowball.
“Hey everyone, I wanted to address Dana White’s comments from this past weekend, because the truth matters to me and the fans. Dana, you were heated about why I’m not on the White House card, but let’s clear something up. My team and I were actually negotiating with the UFC for that fight. Real negotiations. I even came down from my original number, and what was I offered in return? I was lowballed.”
“Yes, I have arthritis in my hip and it’s painful, but that doesn’t mean I can’t fight. So let me get this straight, if I had accepted the lowball offer, suddenly my hip would be fine and I’d be on the White House card? That doesn’t make sense. I even received stem cell treatment last week to get ready for the White House card, and training camp was scheduled to start today. I was preparing to be ready.”
Dana White gave his side and did not soften any of it.
“Never, ever, ever, which I told you guys 100,000 times was Jon Jones even remotely in my mind to fight at the White House.”
“First of all, I’ve told you why I wouldn’t do it and No. 2 some guy with Meta glasses on filmed him talking about his hips, that his hips are so bad and I don’t know if you guys saw that flag football game where he can barely run. Jon Jones, he retired because of his hips. He’s got arthritis in his hips, apparently doctors say he should have hip replacements.”
“That on top of all the other reasons that I wouldn’t [put him at the White House]. The Jon Jones thing is bullshit.”
“I’m not saying they weren’t talking to Jon Jones and Jon Jones wasn’t interested in the fight. What’s even crazier, Jon Jones came out and was like ‘I’m in negotiations right now for the White House fight’ after I had already sent a text to his lawyer saying ‘never going to happen, ever.’”
“Yes, very fair.”
The key issue now is simple. Jones says he was ready and underpaid. White says the fight was never happening. Fans are left deciding which version has more weight.
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Hey everyone, I wanted to address Dana White’s comments from this past weekend, because the truth matters to me and the fans.
Dana, you were heated about why I’m not on the White House card, but let’s clear something up. My team and I were actually negotiating with the UFC for…
— Jonny Meat (@JonnyBones) March 9, 2026
🚨 Dana White says Jon Jones was NEVER going to fight on the White House card 😬
“Never gonna happen, EVER.” pic.twitter.com/epOO8ZqKER
— Championship Rounds (@ChampRDS) March 8, 2026
