UFC luminary Kamaru Usman has publicly aligned himself with Dana White`s firm position regarding Jon Jones.
The highly anticipated 2026 UFC event at the White House continues to generate significant buzz, with numerous top fighters vying for a coveted spot in this national celebration.
Former light heavyweight and heavyweight champion Jon Jones has been particularly vocal about his aspiration to compete in Washington D.C. Despite retiring last summer, the announcement of the White House event immediately spurred Jones to declare his comeback.
However, it seems the controversial Rochester native is not currently among the UFC`s preferred candidates. Dana White publicly dismissed Jones` requests, citing the `greatest of all time` contender`s history of unreliability.
Kamaru Usman Backs Dana White`s Firm Stance on Jon Jones` White House Ambitions
The UFC CEO`s decision has divided both fans and fighters. While many support White, Henry Cejudo speculates that White will eventually “cave in” to Jones` demands.
Should White maintain his position, Kamaru Usman, former welterweight king and co-host of the Pound 4 Pound podcast, believes Jones would have nobody but himself to blame.
During a discussion about potential White House contenders, Usman stated, “You’ve got Jon Jones. He wants to come back and do it. Listen, I would love that for Jon Jones. But Jon, you can’t treat the sport so casually and then expect Dana to still trust you, to allow you back for an event like this. You can’t trifle with the game in that manner.”
Reportedly, Jones had initially agreed to a heavyweight title unification bout against Tom Aspinall this year, only to abruptly withdraw. This incident appears to be the most recent factor contributing to White`s diminished trust in the 38-year-old fighter.
Conor McGregor Urges Dana White to Reconsider Jon Jones` White House Inclusion
Intriguingly, Conor McGregor, a fighter widely speculated to headline the commemorative event over Jones, holds a differing opinion from the UFC president.
Conor McGregor aims for the UFC White House event as his comeback fight after a four-year hiatus. While it`s improbable both he and `Bones` would feature on the same card, McGregor, speaking with Seconds Out, suggested White should permit Jones to compete.
In a short interview, the Irish superstar also asserted that he is negotiating directly with President Donald Trump’s administration for this fight, rather than with the UFC.
McGregor stated, “I’m not negotiating with the UFC for this fight as is typical. Instead, I am negotiating with the United States of America on behalf of Ireland for this bout.”
He added, “It’s a unique situation, but President Trump and his administration have been entirely supportive and I am eagerly anticipating putting on a spectacular show.”
