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EspañolBack at UFC 319's post-fight press conference in August, Dana White was asked about trusting Jon Jones to be on the White House card that was still 10 months off in the gloaming.
Dana wasn’t much in a trusting mood, you might recall, because: A) Jones had already reneged on a verbal agreement to unify the UFC heavyweight title against Tom Aspinall; B) had retired in June, not two months before the question was asked, thus vacating his title; and C) unretired the moment he caught wind that there would be such a thing as a “White House card.”
“If I had to make odds,” White said, holding the mic with both hands, “it’s a billion-to-one that I’d put Jon Jones on the White House card.”
If you’re a diehard MMA fan, I’m only reiterating what you already know. But as a writer who’s been covering Jones since his salad days at UFC 87, talking about him always requires a little context just so the absurdities can stand on their own … and what I’m about to type might be the greatest stroke of absurd luck since Charlie unwrapped that golden ticket to Willy Wonka’s Chocolate Factory.
It appears that Jon Jones will be on that White House card.
It looks pretty certain the dude he’ll be facing is Alex Pereira, who vacated the light heavyweight title this past weekend. Jones says he’s negotiating the deal, which as we know is a minefield for UFC matchmakers, especially in light of Conor Benn’s $15 million payday with Zuffa Boxing. Pereira has already made his sacrifice in order to make a little history, and it’s a guarantee that Benn’s windfall has dilated some pupils in the Brazilian champion’s camp as well. It seems at least reasonable that the fight could be for the interim heavyweight title, given the uncertainty of Aspinall’s return. Perhaps it’s a good thing Big Tom can’t see what’s transpiring across the pond, because his nemesis Jones looks more like Veruca Salt up close.
He's living that pampered life.
Not that any of us really believed it was a “billion-to-one” in the first place, and it should be noted that no sportsbook honored those odds. In fact, a lot of us were doing our best Lloyd Christmas impressions — so you’re telling me there’s a chance — when Dana said that back in August. Jones is the only American fighter out there who is big enough in reputation and comport to carry the flag for what’s been billed as a 250-year-anniversary celebration of American independence. The fact that it’s President Donald Trump’s 80th birthday, we’re told, is strictly coincidental.
Who else would make sense for such a blockbuster occasion other than Jon Jones? One of the greatest fighters of all time, across all combat sports? Dana turned the UFC’s 2024 event schedule into a media campaign to prop up Jones as not only UFC's greatest of all time, but also as the pound-for-pound king in the moment. When the latter claim received some pushback, given that Jones had only showed up once in the previous four years — a heavyweight title win over Ciryl Gane — Dana wanted to have the entire press corps committed.
He always comes back around to Jones. It’s tough for him to say no to his problem child.
Jones has lobbied to be on the card since the idea of taking over the West Lawn went public, and he’s sworn to be on his best behavior if Dana would only give him the chance. He has done the “pretty please” thing pretty much the whole way. Yet it’s kind of crazy that fortune should shine on Jones so soon after his darkest timeyear moment in 2025. The man who ducked Tom Aspinall for reasons of legacy preservation, who pissed off a fight public that quacked as he exited the stage, has nearly been granted his dearest wish.
That is, to face Pereira, in a mega-matchup in which he holds a good many advantages — at a venue that the UFC confesses will cost $60 million for the privilege. One of the talking points coming into the White House card has been to identify which American fighters can go out and get the job done, so that the fireworks will burst with extra patriotic splendor. Even though he will turn 39 years old later in the summer, Jones is the best bet to deliver that.
He will be bigger than Pereira, and he knows how to wrestle. It seems Jones is strong in areas where Pereira is vulnerable.
Though, to be fair, this is exactly why Pereira wants the fight. It’s why on June 14, when it comes right down to it, this fight will feel as big as any we’ve seen in recent years. "Poatan" has always coveted a crack at Jones, who'd skipped town from the 205-pound division by the time Pereira arrived. Pereira's mentor and coach, Glover Teixeira, lost a championship decision to Jones at UFC 172 in Baltimore a dozen years ago. Pereira loves to avenge Teixeira’s losses. He already served some serious payback to Jamahal Hill and Jiri Prochazka (twice). If he goes in there and beats Jones to become the UFC’s first-ever three-division champion, a true legend will emerge.
It wouldn’t be the biggest upset of all time, at least not compared to the kind of odds Jones beat to even make that walk from the Oval Office in the first place. A billion-to-one, baby. Only in America!