Jon Jones responds after Dana Whites damning | Boxing News

Jon Jones, after a temporary retirement of 13 days, was impressed to return to UFC following President Donald Trump‘s speech before Independence Day. However, his return does not guarantee him the privilege of preventing at the White House. President Trump hinted at plans to host a UFC battle card on the White House garden as half of next yr’s July 4th Patriot Games celebrations.

This announcement was made during a rally at the Iowa State Fairgrounds, where Trump also unveiled a new nationally televised sports activities competitors for prime high faculty athletes from all 50 states. Despite Jones’ instant inspiration to rejoin the game, UFC president Dana White appeared much less than enthusiastic about giving Jones such a outstanding position. He mentioned: “I can’t risk putting him (Jones) in big positions, in a big spot and have something go wrong. Especially the White House card.”

“I heard the comments made at last night’s press conference. While I was a little disappointed, I’m still in the UFC’s drug testing pool, staying sharp, and continuing to train like a professional. I’ll be ready for whatever comes next,” Jones said in a assertion.

“In a recent interview, I shared that the opportunity to fight at the White House gave me something deeper to fight for-a ‘why’ that goes beyond paychecks or belts. Fighting for my country gives me a greater purpose!

“The silver lining is realizing the followers see my coronary heart. They see I’m prepared and keen to take on anybody, to signify my nation on a historic stage. For me, it is never been just about the opponent. I’m chasing legacy, one thing timeless, one thing larger than the second. So for now, I’ll keep grinding, keep affected person, and keep trustworthy. I’m prepared to battle on July 4th.”

White conceded that the concept of hosting a UFC Octagon on the White House lawn is so novel that it’s far from being a concrete reality. He outlined several logistical hurdles, including whether the lawn could bear the weight of the 20,000-pound structure.

With Jones stepping away, Aspinall ascended from interim to official heavyweight champion. UFC enthusiasts and White are hopeful that Jones’ comeback fight will be the long-anticipated “title unification bout,” assuming White permits Jones to take part in the cardboard.

When questioned not too long ago about essentially the most formidable fighters in UFC, White promptly named BMF champion Max Holloway, who just triumphed over Dustin Poirier in the latter’s farewell battle at UFC 318 on Sunday.

Holloway has headlined 10 UFC playing cards all through his profession, participated in 31 fights within the organisation, and has never failed to make weight or withdrawn from a single card. Jones has flunked drug exams that impacted occasions 200, 214, and 232.

The landmark occasion 200 was initially deliberate to function a heavyweight championship bout between Jones and Daniel Cormier.

Following Jones’s constructive take a look at for two banned substances, former Middleweight champion Anderson Silva stepped in to change him at the occasion.