Jon Jones asks for UFC release as feud with Dana White over White House card intensifies

Jon Jones is asking for his release from the UFC.

The retired former heavyweight and light heavyweight champion did so in a post on X after contentious contract negotiations for the company’s UFC Freedom 250 White House card and comments made by CEO Dana White over the weekend about his status with the company.

White said Jones was “never ever, ever,” remotely in mind for the card at the White House on June 14, during the press conference following UFC 326 on Saturday. He added that he wasn’t saying they didn’t have any talks with Jones and Jones wasn’t interested in the fight, but he told the fighter’s lawyer it was “’never gonna happen, ever.’”

White has said in the past that Jones, due to his long history of legal and arrrest issues, was too unreliable to book for such an important event.

Former UFC Heavyweight champion Jon Jones. Robert Miller

“I’ve told you why I wouldn’t do it. And No. 2, some guy with Meta glasses on filmed him talking about his hips being so bad. I don’t know if you guys saw that flag football game where he can barely run,” White said. “Jon Jones retired because of his hips. He’s got arthritis in his hips. Apparently, he’s been — doctors say he should have hip replacements. That, on top of all the other reasons that I wouldn’t, but the Jon Jones thing is bulls–t.”

The 38-year-old Jones, who was hoping for the headliner spot on the now underwhelming card, already pushed back on the sincerity of the negotiations in a since-deleted tweet storm on Sunday and took things further a day later, saying he was “lowballed” by the UFC. 

“Dana, you were heated about why I’m not on the White House card, but let’s clear something up. My team and I were actually negotiating with the UFC for that fight. Real negotiations,” Jones wrote. “I even came down from my original number, and what was I offered in return ? I was lowballed.” 

He had been rumored for a fight against Alex Pereira, who was booked against Ciryl Gane in the co-main event on the card for the interim heavyweight title instead. Last November, Jones turned down $30 million to fight Tom Aspinall. 

“I understand business deals fall through sometimes, but going out publicly and saying things that aren’t true isn’t right,” Jones said. “After everything I’ve given to the UFC, the years, the title defenses, the fights, hearing that I’m “done” is disappointing. 

UFC CEO and President Dana White speaks during the UFC 326 event at T-Mobile Arena on March 07, 2026. Zuffa LLC

“Especially when as recently as Friday UFC was calling me trying to get me on that White House card for a much lower number. 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.”

He added that he received stem cell treatment last week on his arthritic hip to get ready to fight at the White House and was planning to open training camp on March 9. Jones wondered if White’s tune about his hip would have been different had he agreed to fight. 

“So let me get this straight, if I had accepted the lowball offer, suddenly my hip would be fine and I’d be on the White House card?” he wrote. “That doesn’t make sense.”

Jones is arguably the greatest pound-for-pound fighter in UFC history with a 28-1-0 (1 NC) record, with his only loss coming by DQ. He won his last fight by KO against Stipe Miocic at UFC 309 in November 2024 and retired after the two sides could not reach an agreement on a fight late last year.  

Illia Topuria and Justin Gaethje will headline the White House card in a bout for the lightweight championship.