LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – MARCH 04: Jon Jones reacts to his win in the UFC heavyweight championship fight during the UFC 285 event at T-Mobile Arena on March 04, 2023, in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)

Jon Jones is widely considered the greatest MMA fighter of all time. For 16 years, he has remained unbeaten in the UFC. Jones, along with Conor McGregor, has been the UFC’s biggest revenue driver and high-profile star. At the same time, Jon Jones has caused a lot of headaches, with two suspensions from USADA for positive drug tests and a UFC suspension after a felony hit and run. In 2021, Jones was arrested hours after his fight with Alexander Gustafsson’s induction into the UFC Hall of Fame. Four years later, Jones’s refusal of a 30-million-dollar payday to defend his undisputed title against interim champion Tom Aspinall led to his retirement, stating severe arthritis as the reason. Nonetheless, Jones stated his desire to fight at the UFC White House Card in June. 

“The UFC knows the extent of my arthritis,” Jones said. They also know that if I were to put it all on the line one last time and endure that level of pain, the reward would have to be something special and something more than a fat payday. For me, that was and is still the White House.” Jones told TMZ Sports. 

Dana White repeatedly refused to allow Jon Jones on the White House Card, which made it all the more shocking to hear rumors that Jon Jones would headline the UFC Freedom 250 card against Alex Pereira. The UFC White House card is a marquee event, a spectacle, and a celebration of America for the country’s upcoming 250th birthday. The announcement of this card may be the most highly anticipated fight card in UFC history, with sky-high expectations. However, those expectations should have been tempered by the reported production costs. The UFC’s parent company, TKO, projects the event will cost 60 million and result in a financial loss. 

Jon Jones just turned down 30 million to defend his undisputed title against Tom Aspinall in 2025. Given astronomical production costs, it should have been expected that the UFC would not spend a significant amount to pay Jones to fight at the White House. Yes, the UFC has the money to pay Jones, especially following the 7.7 billion media deal with Paramount, but history tells us, TKO and the UFC do not like taking a massive loss. 

“If anybody should be getting money in this sport, it’s Jon Jones. We’re talking about Conor McGregor and Jon Jones — those are the guys who’ve brought in revenue for over 10 years. They need to be getting paid what they deserve.” Tom Aspinall stated on the Ariel Helwani show.

The announcement of this card may be the most highly anticipated fight card in UFC history, with sky-high expectations. However, those expectations should have been tempered by the reported production costs. The reported offer to Jon Jones was $ 15 million to fight Alex Pereira at UFC Freedom 250. Jones considered the offer a lowball, while Dana White told the media that Jones was never an option for the card. The situation has upset Jon Jones so much that he has asked to be released from his UFC contract. 

“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.” Jones posted on X. 

From my perspective on this situation, I understand Jon Jones’ feeling that he deserves a reward to cap off his incredible career at one of the biggest events in UFC history. Still, I understand why the UFC does not consider him reliable enough to headline such a massive event, given the significant money already committed to its production. Jon Jones was supposed to fight Tom Aspinall last year. He retired instead. But now he wants to fight at the White House, for less money? If Jones fought Aspinall last year, win or lose, he’d be on the White House card, main-eventing. It’s a shame he’s not. The event would be better with him on it. This is a situation where both sides have a strong point. Will Jones be released from the UFC? Will he ever fight again? As always, Jon Jones’s future in MMA is unpredictable.