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TKO Group CEO: UFC White House event will have "approximately" 6 to 7 fights (1:02)
TKO Group CEO Ari Emanuel joins "The Pat McAfee Show" to give details regarding the upcoming UFC White House event. (1:02)
Brett OkamotoMar 9, 2026, 05:21 PM ET
- Brett Okamoto has reported on mixed martial arts and boxing at ESPN since 2010. He has covered all of the biggest events in combat sports during that time, including in-depth interviews and features with names such as Dana White, Khabib Nurmagomedov, Conor McGregor, Nate Diaz, Floyd Mayweather, Manny Pacquiao and Georges St-Pierre. He was also a producer on the 30 for 30 film: "Chuck and Tito," which looked back at the careers and rivalry of Chuck Liddell and Tito Ortiz. He lives in Las Vegas, and is an avid, below-average golfer in his spare time.
A public feud between Jon Jones and UFC CEO Dana White escalated Monday, with Jones mentioning the possibility of his UFC release.
Over the past several months, Jones had expressed great interest in making an appearance on the UFC's live event at the White House on June 14. However, when the promotion announced the card Saturday, Jones was an obvious exclusion. In the aftermath of the announcement, White said Jones was never strongly considered for the event and is retired.
On Monday, Jones, who retired from the sport in 2025 but quickly changed his mind because of the planned White House event, accused the organization of lowballing him in contract negotiations.
"Dana, you were heated about why I'm not on the White House card, but let's clear something up," Jones wrote on X. "My team and I were actually negotiating with the UFC for that fight. Real negotiations. I even came down from my original number, and what was I offered in return? I was lowballed.
"If the UFC truly feels like I'm done, then I respectfully ask to be released from my contract today."
Jones, 38, also looked to clarify any questions regarding his health. Last month, a video surfaced online of Jones acknowledging that he has arthritis in his left hip and has been advised he'll require a hip replacement. White has indicated that he took that video as evidence Jones should never fight again.
"Yes, I have arthritis in my hip and it's painful, but that doesn't mean I can't fight," Jones wrote in Monday's post. "So let me get this straight, 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."
Jones, widely considered the greatest MMA fighter of all time, hasn't fought since he recorded his one and only heavyweight title defense, when he defeated Stipe Miocic in November 2024.
