Messages have been revealed showing that Dana White was not entirely impressed or happy with Jon Jones back in 2014.
This information has been made public as part of the UFC antitrust lawsuit. Messages between Mr Fertitta, the then UFC Chairman, and Dana White have been released discuss on going contract talks with Jones.
“What’s up with Jones? Did he straighten up or is he still being a scumbag?” White asked.
“Still a douche, but we’re inching closer,” Fertitta replied. “Haven’t moved on money, but sent the letter with an ultimatum.”
“Awesome,” White responded. “F*** that punk, Lorenzo. He needs to know we don’t need him, or he will f*** us over more than he already does.”
Quotes via MMAFighting
Dana White and Jon Jones Tumultuous Relationship
The frustration in the revealed messages does not come as a surprise. The relationship between Jones and the UFC has never been without speed bumps. Particularly the UFC 151 event where Jones refused a short notice opponent in Chael Sonnen. White described it as a ‘murder’ of an event. In the coming year Jones would strain the relationship with the organisation again with a hit-and-run accident leaving Jones facing potential jail time.
UFC President Dana White had described Jones as a scumbag in released communication with lawyer Michael Dell’Angelo.
“Do you know Jon Jones’ history? Just to be a scumbag in life. …. I mean, you could get pretty much every guy who works for me to testify that, yes, I was not happy with Jon Jones’ life choices.”
Jones continued his dominant reign at the top of the sport and as the king at Light Heavyweight. Throughout this time he teased a move to Heavyweight but the move never materialised. His final few performances at 205lbs left many fans disappointed as he looked a shadow of his former self. He defeated Dominick Reyes in a close decision at the beginning of 2020 and then in August that year he vacated the title aiming towards a shot at Heavyweight gold. The jump came 3 years later when Jones faced Cyril Gane in March 2023, reasoning for the layoff is unknown but reasons range from contract negotiations to building a new frame but it will never be clear. Some even believe it was a certain Heavyweight King that delayed Jones’ return.
Mystery of Jones vs N’Gannou
Rumours rumbled on continuously with a potential super fight in the making between Jones a new Heavyweight superstar Francis N’gannou. N’gannou defended the belt against Gane in January of 2022 but then parted ways with the UFC a year later to pursue his dream of boxing. Conveniently Jones returned a couple months later to fight for the vacant belt left by the Cameroonian. Jones won the belt with ease and was set to defend it in November last year however an unfortunate injury was suffered in training. The torn pectoral required surgery so has side lined the champion for some time.
Dana White has surprisingly reinforced the idea of a legacy fight for Jones with the ever ageing Heavyweight icon Stipe Miocic rather than the number one contender and interim champion Tom Aspinall. Many believe the Englishman would cause a world of problems for the current champ. Aspinall and Jones have been going at it online in the past weeks comparing records and careers. Unfortunately for the Brit it looks set in stone that Jones will return vs Miocic and then retire so the matchup will always be a fantasy.
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