As the UFC prepares for its upcoming White House celebration, Dana White is considering which fights will headline the historic card. Many prominent figures in mixed martial arts feel that a matchup between Jon Jones and Alex Pereira deserves a spot at the event, with White showing some support but expressing hesitation. The prospect of Jon Jones vs Alex Pereira is generating significant buzz as fight fans and industry insiders await official confirmation.
UFC commentator Joe Rogan has voiced strong support for this contest, suggesting that the promotion even introduce a heavyweight BMF title specifically for the White House card. Despite this enthusiasm, White remains cautious about committing to the bout due to Jones’s recent reliability concerns.
Dana White’s Concerns About Jon Jones’s Commitment
In a recent interview with Complex News, Dana White addressed the possibility of featuring Jon Jones in the White House fight card but revealed his reservations:
“Yeah, I mean that would be a fight, but can I count on Jon Jones? Can’t have Jon Jones doing something bad or pulling out of the f**king White House fight.”
White’s doubts stem from Jones’s history of withdrawing from key fights at critical moments. Although Jon Jones is widely regarded by the UFC CEO as the greatest mixed martial artist ever, White admits it is difficult to depend on him. This is particularly true after Jones abruptly retired in early 2025 instead of following through with a scheduled heavyweight title unification bout against Tom Aspinall.
That unexpected retirement forced the UFC to promote Aspinall to undisputed champion, leaving the promotion scrambling. Despite the setback, Jones has publicly expressed his desire to return for the White House event and apologized to White for reneging on the prior commitment with Aspinall.
Daniel Cormier Proposes a Plan to Address White’s Reservations
Jon Jones’s former adversary Daniel Cormier supports including Jones on the White House card, emphasizing the importance of having America’s best fighters participate in such a landmark occasion. At the same time, Cormier acknowledges White’s worry over Jones’s track record and suggests a financial safeguard as a solution.
During a 2025 YouTube segment, Cormier outlined his proposal to ensure Jones’s presence:
“If you put Jon Jones on the White House card, say something happens with the law, and he has to be pulled off the card, a million dollars. Say he just says he doesn’t want to fight, a million dollars. Say he gets injured, then it should be less as long as the injury can be proven. If the injury is proven, charge him nothing… But you put these safeguards in place to make sure that he shows up there.” [7:01 mark of the video]
Cormier’s suggestion involves imposing monetary penalties for last-minute withdrawals except in cases of verified injuries, aiming to hold Jones accountable to his commitments and minimize risk to the event’s planning.
Implications for the UFC White House Card and MMA Landscape
The inclusion of Jones vs Alex Pereira would undoubtedly add star power and excitement to the White House card, attracting substantial attention from fans and media alike. However, the uncertainties surrounding Jones’s reliability place UFC leadership in a difficult position. White’s caution reflects the broader challenge of balancing fighter appeal with logistical certainty for major shows.
As the UFC nears finalizing its White House lineup, the negotiations surrounding Jon Jones will be telling of his current standing within the promotion and his role in future marquee fights. Whether Dana White’s concerns can be addressed, possibly through arrangements like the one proposed by Cormier, remains to be seen, but the outcome will have a significant impact on the UFC’s biggest event of the year.
Dana White on booking Jon Jones vs Alex Pereira at light-heavyweight at the White House
"At 205? That would be a fight. But can I count on Jon Jones?"
(via @Complex) pic.twitter.com/PPZl14iQml
— Championship Rounds (@ChampRDS) January 15, 2026
