Daniel Cormier Urges Dana White to Put Jon Jones on UFC White House Card
Former light heavyweight and heavyweight champion Jon Jones has expressed his desire to compete in the proposed UFC White House event, and now one of his biggest competitors is supporting him. Daniel Cormier lobbied UFC president Dana White to include Jones on the historic program, stating that Americans who can win should be featured at such a landmark location.
As part of Fourth of July celebrations, President Donald Trump and Dana White proposed a White House UFC show, sparking criticism in the sport. Jones briefly retired and openly indicated enthusiasm in returning, but White has been wary about committing him to the lineup. White is hesitant because of reliability and the optics of having a contentious subject on a historic card. That prudence allows voices like Cormier to advocate for Jones’ inclusion.
Jon Jones’ mixed martial arts career is one of the most complicated and successful. Despite a disqualification defeat early in his career and a high-profile no contest after a positive test that cost him a title reign, he is considered one of the sport’s finest fighters. Supporters emphasize his supremacy and drawing power, while detractors and boosters worry about reliability and risk.
On the other hand, heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall is active. Aspinall will defend his title against Ciryl Gane at UFC 321 on October 25 in Abu Dhabi, keeping the heavyweight division moving and complicating a Jones–Aspinall showdown on a special White House card. That scheduled defense supports the idea that any White House headliner must be carefully chosen and timed to avoid conflict with the matching calendar.
Cormier says that the White House card should be a patriotic event that highlights American winners, changing the conversation. His practical advice on reducing risk, such as employing contract promises or penalties to induce commitment, shows a knowledge of both the promotional and symbolic stakes. Despite White’s reservations, some veterans and insiders support Jones due to his pragmatic approach.
The conflict between prestige and practicality makes this story intriguing. The UFC must assess the marketing potential of Jon Jones against the operational risk of late withdrawals or controversy for a once-in-a-generation White House bout. The issue provides fans and media a new storyline: will the promotion favor reliability and clear title-line paths or gamble on star power to create a historic moment? Tune-up fights, contractual guarantees, or a compromise that preserves the heavyweight title picture while allowing for special card highlights may be the solution.
Currently, the situation is fluid. Jones has the name recognition and record to make a solid case, Dana White has the practical authority to accept or deny the risk, and Tom Aspinall’s UFC 321 defense keeps the heavyweight timeline moving. As negotiations and plans continue, fight fans should watch the heavyweight division’s calendar and White, Jones, or Aspinall’s statements. These developments will determine whether Cormier’s call for a headline American fighter becomes reality or remains a debate about what should represent the sport on such a historic stage
Sources
MMA Fighting
MMA Mania
Wikipedia
UFC
