TLDR
- Jon Jones confirmed he is in active negotiations with the UFC for a fight at the White House event
- The UFC plans to hold a historic card at the White House on June 14, which is President Trump’s birthday
- Speculation suggests this could be Jones’ retirement fight, with Alex Pereira rumored as a possible opponent
- UFC CEO Dana White dismissed concerns that the White House event is too political
- Jones has not fought since vacating his heavyweight title
Sources: The Sports Tak | AOL | MMA Fighting
Former UFC heavyweight champion Jon Jones has confirmed he is in active negotiations with the UFC for a potential fight at the upcoming White House event. Jones made the announcement during a recent appearance in New Hampshire, marking a new development in the ongoing saga surrounding the historic card.
The UFC plans to hold a major event at the White House on June 14, which also happens to be President Donald Trump’s 79th birthday. The fight card is scheduled to celebrate America’s 250th anniversary.
Jones has not competed since vacating his heavyweight title. His confirmation of ongoing talks signals renewed communication with UFC president Dana White after previous tensions between the two.
Retirement Fight Rumors Swirl
Speculation has grown that the White House bout could serve as Jones’ retirement fight. Brazilian fighter Alex Pereira has been rumored as a possible opponent, though no official matchup has been announced.
The former champion’s update represents a shift from earlier reports that suggested negotiations had stalled. Jones did not provide specific details about potential opponents or a timeline for finalizing the deal.
Jon Jones confirms active talks for #UFCWhiteHouse fight 👇🏽https://t.co/nzskLMbFbb
— bjpenndotcom (@bjpenndotcom) March 1, 2026
Dana White Defends Political Nature of Event
UFC CEO Dana White addressed concerns about the political nature of the White House event during an interview on “CBS News Sunday Morning.” When asked if he should be less “overtly political,” White pushed back on the criticism.
“How about be authentic and just be yourself?” White responded to CBS correspondent Luke Burbank. “You don’t have to agree with me, and you don’t have to like it, and I don’t have to agree with you, but we can all still just get along.”
White compared the situation to previous presidents who supported different sports. “If you look back throughout history, I think George Bush was a big baseball fan, Obama was an NBA fan and Trump is a UFC fan,” White said.
He argued that presidential support has not made any sport too political in the past. “I don’t think that any of those guys being fans made any sport too political,” White added.
White has maintained a long friendship with President Trump dating back to when he acquired the UFC. He endorsed Trump during the 2024 presidential election and spoke at the Republican National Convention.
The UFC CEO told CBS News that Trump is “a guy’s guy” and that he knew “the younger generation could relate to Donald Trump.” White reportedly encouraged Trump to appear on podcasts aimed at younger male audiences during the campaign.
Fans have been waiting for updates on who will compete at the landmark White House card. The event would mark the first time the UFC has held a fight at the executive mansion.
Jones remains one of the most accomplished fighters in UFC history despite his time away from competition. His involvement would add star power to an already high-profile event.
The negotiations are ongoing, and no final agreements have been announced. Jones stated he remains in talks with the organization about participating in the June 14 event.
