Former UFC champion Jon Jones has publicly requested his release from the promotion following a dispute with CEO Dana White over his exclusion from the upcoming White House event. Jones claims negotiations for a spot on the June 14 card were ongoing until a lowball offer ended talks, while White insists Jones was never seriously considered due to health concerns. The feud highlights tensions between the fighter and the UFC amid Jones' storied career.
Jon Jones, widely regarded as one of the greatest fighters in UFC history, escalated his ongoing tensions with the promotion on March 9, 2026, by requesting a release from his contract via a detailed social media post on X. The dispute arose after UFC CEO Dana White announced the lineup for the "UFC Freedom 250: The White House" event during the post-fight press conference following UFC 326 on March 8, 2026. The card, set for June 14, 2026, at the White House in Washington, D.C., features Ilia Topuria defending his lightweight title against Justin Gaethje in the main event and Alex Pereira challenging Ciryl Gane for the interim heavyweight title in the co-main.
White stated that Jones was "never, ever, ever" in consideration for the historic event, citing the fighter's hip arthritis, which he said requires replacement surgery, and past issues outside the octagon. "Jon Jones retired because of his hips. He's got arthritis in his hips," White remarked, referencing a video where Jones discussed his condition with a fan wearing Meta Glasses and footage of him struggling in a flag football game. White added that he had texted Jones' lawyer beforehand, saying the fight would "never gonna happen, ever."
Jones countered that his team was in "real negotiations" with the UFC, where he lowered his original asking price but received a lowball offer in return. He acknowledged his hip arthritis but emphasized it does not prevent him from fighting, noting he underwent stem cell treatment the previous week and was set to begin training camp on March 9. "As recently as Friday, UFC was calling me trying to get me on that White House card for a much lower number," Jones wrote. He expressed disappointment after his contributions to the UFC, including multiple title defenses and a 28-1 record with the longest winning streak at 20 fights, and concluded, "If the UFC truly feels like I’m done, then I respectfully ask to be released from my contract today. No more spins, no more games."
Interim heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall defended Jones, calling the situation "crazy" and arguing that Jones deserves better financial respect given his revenue-generating legacy. The UFC has not publicly responded to Jones' release request, and sources indicate the promotion is unlikely to grant it due to contractual obligations. Jones, who retired in summer 2025 before quickly reversing course, holds records as the youngest UFC champion and remains the heavyweight titleholder despite the interim bout on the card.
