White: 'Can't risk' having Jones in big events like UFC White House card

UFC CEO Dana White says Jon Jones is too unreliable to headline the promotion's event at the White House next year.

"I can't risk putting him in big positions in a big spot and have something go wrong," White said after Saturday's UFC 318. "Especially the White House card."

Jones announced his retirement in June but has since expressed interest in competing after President Donald Trump announced earlier this month plans to host a UFC event on the White House grounds on July 4, 2026.

Jones last fought in November, defending the heavyweight title with a third-round TKO against Stipe Miocic. The UFC was unable to book a highly anticipated bout between Jones and then-interim heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall before his retirement.

Jones posted on X that he was "a little disappointed" by White's comments.

"I'm still in the UFC's drug testing pool, staying sharp, and continuing to train like a professional," Jones said. "I'll be ready for whatever comes next. In a recent interview, I shared that the opportunity to fight at the White House gave me something deeper to fight for, a 'why' that goes beyond paychecks or belts."

Jones added: "I'm chasing legacy, something timeless, something bigger than the moment. So for now, I'll keep grinding, stay patient, and stay faithful. I'm ready to fight on July 4."

In 2016, Jones withdrew from his headlining bout against rival Daniel Cormier at UFC 200 after testing positive for performance-enhancing drugs. Two years later, the promotion moved UFC 232 from Las Vegas to Los Angeles on one week's notice after Jones was denied a license to compete in Nevada due to an inconsistency in his drug testing.

Legal issues have also plagued Jones' career. Most notably, police charged him with a felony hit-and-run in 2015 after he fled the scene of a crash that injured a pregnant woman.

Jones is regarded as one of the greatest fighters of all time. He's a former two-time light heavyweight champion, interim light heavyweight champion, and heavyweight champion. He holds multiple UFC records, including the most wins in title fights (16) and most successful title defenses (12).