Daniel Cormier urges Dana White to put Jon Jones | MMA News
Since it was announced that the White House will host a UFC event on its grounds next summer time in commemoration the America 250 celebration marking the 250th anniversary of the Continental Congress formally adopted the Declaration of Independence, a number of fighters have lobbied to be on the battle card.
One of the most high-profile fighters that’s pushed the toughest to be half of the historic event has been former two-division champion Jon Jones.
UFC CEO Dana White has all but closed the door on Jones competing at the White House citing it being too big of a ‘risk.’
“I can’t risk putting him (Jones) in big positions, in a big spot and have something go wrong,” said White during the UFC 318 Post-Fight Press Conference on July 19. “Especially the White House card.”
Jones has an unlikely ally in his pursuit to battle at the White House, fellow former two-division UFC titleholder and rival Daniel Cormier.
“Jon Jones has stated publicly he wants to fight at the White House. He’ll tell anyone that’ll listen,” Cormier said on his YouTube channel. “But Dana seems more stern in not letting him today than I have ever seen him in regards to Jon Jones.”
“This time he seems like he is not going to back down and allow for him to be on this White House card,” continued Cormier. “And if I’m being completely honest, I don’t know if I agree with it. I think I’d let him fight.”
Jones and White have had a tumultuous relationship over the years. The only UFC event to be canceled for non-pandemic associated causes concerned Jones. There have been failed drug exams, legal points exterior of the cage, and drawn-out contract negotiations. Let’s just say Jones is not high up on White’s record of favourite fighters to work with. Despite White reluctance, Cormier believes Jones needs to be featured on the battle card.
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“I think, if he wants to fight, I’d let him fight because for as much as mixed martial arts is a global sport, and it’s a sport that everybody loves, and we support people from all around the world, at the end of the day we’re fighting at the White House,” Cormier said.
“You want American people that can win at the end of the night,” he added. “Imagine if we’re on the White House lawn and the Americans aren’t winning fights. And that could happen because when the opening line for McGregor vs. Chandler comes out, Chandler is going to be a pretty substantial underdog, as he should be. Even though Conor hasn’t fought in forever, he’ll still be the favorite to beat Michael Chandler.
“But if you put Jon Jones against Tom Aspinall, for all people that says Tom Aspinall is the man to beat him, when that line opens I guess Jon Jones is still going to be the favourite. He’ll still be the favourite to beat Tom Aspinall. He’ll be the man that’s the world champion, or at least was the world champion before he vacated his title and retired, so he’ll still be the favourite to win that battle.”
Cormier raises a valid point. The fight card has to feature stellar matchups but also American fighters with solid chances of winning. Winning is all Jones has done his entire career.
“I consider that you’ve got bought to let him battle,” Cormier said. “We have no American guys in the Top 10 Pound-for-Pound (rankings) since Jon Jones retired. That’s loopy.
“Come on. Come on, boss. It’s me asking you to give Jon Jones a chance. That’s crazy.”
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