Jon Jones requests UFC release, disputing Dana White's stance on health, White House negotiations

Las Vegas – Jon Jones, the only man to hold both the UFC light-heavyweight and heavyweight titles, has formally asked for his release from the promotion, escalating a public dispute with CEO Dana White over the weekend’s “Freedom 250” card at the White House.

Jones, 38, came out of a brief summer 2025 retirement specifically to land a main-event slot on the historic White House show, only to learn during Saturday’s UFC 326 broadcast that his name was not on the fight sheet. White told reporters that Jones had been ruled out because of chronic hip issues, including arthritis so severe that doctors have recommended total hip replacement.

“Never, ever, ever… was Jon Jones ever even remotely in my mind to fight at the White House,” White said at the post-fight press conference. The executive cited an anonymously filmed video, captured through a fan’s Meta Glasses, in which Jones can be heard describing his hip pain. White also pointed to Jones’s recent appearance in a flag-football game, claiming the fighter “could barely run.”

Jones fired back Monday on social media, acknowledging arthritis but insisting it does not prevent him from competing. “Yes, I have arthritis in my hip and it’s painful, but that doesn’t mean I can’t fight,” he wrote, adding that he underwent stem-cell therapy last week and had been scheduled to begin training camp Monday. “If the UFC truly feels like I’m done, then I respectfully ask to be released from my contract today.”

The former champion contends negotiations for the White House card were active as recently as Friday, when UFC officials allegedly approached him with a reduced offer. “So let me get this straight,” Jones posted, “if I had accepted the lowball offer, suddenly my hip would be fine and I’d be on the White House card? That doesn’t make sense.”

White, who has repeatedly called Jones the greatest fighter in UFC history, maintains the organization could not rely on the star to appear on fight night given his history of out-of-cage issues. Jones’s sole UFC loss remains a 2009 disqualification against Matt Hamill; he owns the promotion’s longest winning streak at 20 bouts and became the youngest champion ever at age 23.

The UFC declined to comment when contacted by CBS Sports. Jones’s management has not indicated whether the release request will be granted or if the heavyweight will attempt to continue his career elsewhere.

SEO keywords: