© John Jones-Imagn Images
Jon Jones apparently turned down big money to fight Alex Pereira at the White House.
Two weeks ago, UFC CEO Dana White bashed Jones and claimed he never considered the former UFC champ to fight on the White House card.
”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,” White said at the UFC 326 post-fight press conference. “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.”
Jones fired back, claiming he was “lowballed” by the UFC.
“Dana, you were heated about why I’m not on the White House card, but let’s clear something up,” Jones wrote on X. “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.”
“If the UFC truly feels like I’m done, then I respectfully ask to be released from my contract today.”
On Saturday, Jones revealed that he turned down $15 million to fight Pereira at the White House because it was significantly less than what he was offered to fight Tom Aspinall.
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