Dana White Reveals Jon Jones Apology Text but Still Won't Be on UFC White House Card

UFC president Dana White isn't budging on keeping Jon Jones off the card for the 2026 event at the White House, despite the former heavyweight champion apologizing for how things played out with the proposed Tom Aspinall fight.

Appearing on The Zach Gelb Podcast, White said Jones sent him an apology text.

However, when asked about the possibility of Jones being considered for the UFC White House card, White definitively said "no" because he needs "people I can count on" for that show.

"I know who they are. I know who they are not," added White about the people he can rely on.

UFC had been attempting for many months to finalize a deal that would have Jones fight Tom Aspinall for the undisputed heavyweight title.

White told reporters during the post-show press conference after UFC 316 he felt confident a deal would happen because Jones "accepted the deal" he was offered.

Two weeks later, Jones announced his retirement from mixed martial arts. White said at the time that Jones called to say he was retiring and named Aspinall the UFC heavyweight champion.

After President Donald Trump announced plans to hold a UFC event on the White House lawn in the summer of 2026, Jones expressed hope that he would be added to the card.

Jones has often had a tumultuous relationship with White and UFC. He didn't fight for three years after defeating Dominick Reyes to retain the light heavyweight title at UFC 247 in February 2020.

After a dispute with White over his contract amid negotiations for a proposed bout with Francis Ngannou, Jones vacated the light heavyweight title in May 2020.

The rift lasted until March 2023 when Jones returned as a heavyweight to challenge Ciryl Gane for the vacant heavyweight title. He won via first-round submission and a bout with Stipe Miocic was set up for the Madison Square Garden show in November 2023.

However, Jones withdrew from the fight just over two weeks before the event because of an injury suffered in training. He did return one year later and defeated Miocic at UFC 309 to retain the heavyweight crown.

An official date for the UFC White House show has not yet been announced, but it is reportedly going to take place in June 2026.

Given how much attention and marketing is going to be centered around the UFC White House show, White is understandably taking great lengths to avoid any situation that could significantly impact the fight card.