November 7, 2025 — Las Vegas:Former UFC heavyweight champion Jon Jones has expressed remorse toward UFC President Dana White, saying he was “wrong” in how their past negotiations unfolded — and now hopes to reconcile as he eyes a comeback on the UFC White House card next year.
Jones, widely regarded as one of the greatest fighters in mixed martial arts history, vacated the heavyweight title earlier this year and briefly announced his retirement. However, that stance shifted after UFC confirmed plans for its historic White House card, sparking Jones’ renewed push to return to the Octagon.
During a recent appearance on the No Scripts podcast, Jones addressed his strained relationship with White and the breakdown of his verbal agreement to fight Tom Aspinall, the current UFC heavyweight champion.
“Dana has changed my life — my children’s lives,” Jones said. “We had a verbal agreement that didn’t go over well, nothing was finalized, but I do admit I was wrong.”
“I wish I could see him face-to-face and just apologize, so we can let bygones be bygones and get back to making major money for the sport — and really entertaining these fans.”
The UFC CEO has publicly resisted including Jones on the White House card lineup, citing past issues involving cancellations and negotiations. Although the event’s official fight card remains unannounced, insiders suggest White remains cautious about granting Jones another high-profile opportunity.
According to MMA journalist Ariel Helwani, Jones previously turned down a $30 million offer to face Aspinall — a figure revealed on Logan Paul’s Impaulsive podcast. With Aspinall now preparing for a rematch against Ciryl Gane in 2026, Jones appears to be shifting his attention toward a potential superfight with Alex Pereira, the reigning light heavyweight champion.
“Either way that fight goes, no one loses,” Jones said. “It generates so many millions for the sport. There’s no losing when high-level fighters who respect each other compete.”
Whether Dana White accepts Jones’ olive branch remains to be seen, but one thing is clear — the former champion isn’t done chasing legacy-defining moments in the UFC.
