A new report offers a major update on why Jon Jones didn’t make the officially announced UFC White House card.
Last year, President Donald Trump broke the news that the UFC would make sports history by holding an event on the White House lawn for his birthday. Since that moment, there has been a massive amount of speculation about which fight would take place in what would become the most important event in MMA history.
Two legends who wanted to join the program shortly after it was announced were former two-division champions Conor McGregor and Jon Jones. However, over the past few weeks, it was looking very unlikely for anyone to compete on the White House lawn.
In the case of McGregor, as the most famous fighter in sports history, it became impossible to reach his standard salary in the new Paramount+ era without pay-per-view and competing in Washington, D.C. due to the points it accrues. This is why he is more likely to return in the July PPV event.
Jon Jones Record: 28-1 (11 knockouts, 7 submissions)
When it comes to “Bones,” UFC CEO Dana White didn’t hide the fact that he didn’t trust Jones to make fight night. Nevertheless, a report last week claimed that the company was in discussions with its representatives about a fight against fellow former two-division champion Alex Pereira at the June 14 event.
However, during the UFC 326 broadcast on Saturday night, the full lineup for the UFC White House card was announced, and Jones was not in it. Well, a new report reveals that, apparently, that was Jones’ high asking price.
According to veteran MMA insider Ariel Helwani, while the UFC tried to get the Pereira vs. Jones fight scheduled for June, they could not agree on the money the 38-year-old was asking for. Helwani claims the former light heavyweight and heavyweight champion’s asking price was equal to what boxer Connor Benn received in his one-fight deal with Zuffa Boxing. Rumors claim it is $15 million.
The MMA insider believes that the failed discussions mean that Jones is finished as a UFC fighter as the promotion will not be able to meet his asking price.
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