Jones calls missing UFC White House card one of the biggest regrets of his life

Jon Jones has described missing the UFC White House card as one of the biggest regrets of his life, admitting he campaigned hard for a spot on the event before ultimately being passed over.

Jones, widely regarded as the greatest light heavyweight in UFC history, last competed at UFC 309, where he finished Stipe Miocic to retain the heavyweight title. He briefly retired after that bout before reversing course and pushing publicly for a place on the high-profile White House card — going as far as attempting to apologise to the UFC for the disruption caused by his initial retirement, after the promotion had reportedly agreed to his demands for a title unification fight with Tom Aspinall. His efforts came to nothing, and the card’s heavyweight slot went to a co-main event interim title fight between Ciryl Gane and Alex Pereira.

“There was the White House card,” Jones told The Schmo. “That was one of the few nights in my career where I just was thinking, ‘I should have been there.’ I usually don’t regret decisions, but that was one of my big regrets in life, not being a part of the White House.”

Despite that frustration, Jones reflected warmly on his final performance at UFC 309, framing the Miocic victory as a near-perfect send-off.

“I really do believe that was my last moment inside the cage,” he said. “And it was great. I got to fight — my brother was still alive at the time, my father was there. I got to tell the world that I love Jesus, and that will never change. I got to salute our President. I’m not huge into politics, but to have your President there, whether you’re Democrat or Republican, is massive. So honestly, I don’t think it gets much better than that.”

Jones also addressed the significance of the Miocic win itself, noting the weight of defeating a fighter many considered the greatest heavyweight of all time. “Stipe Miocic was considered the greatest heavyweight of all-time. You know, we’re both older, but to defeat him, I don’t really see how it can get bigger than that.”

With the White House card now behind him and no fight on the horizon, Jones suggested his competitive career is almost certainly over. “But if I never fight again,” he added, “I think I’m pretty damn happy.”