Dana White and Jon Jones haven’t always seen eye to eye.
But right now, the UFC president and his former light heavyweight champion are on good terms, according to White.
In an interview with “SHOUT!” Buffalo podcast on Wednesday, White confirmed he recently had a positive conversation with Jones. This, coming months after White and Jones publicly aired grievances with one another.
“I think he’s in a much better place than he has been (in),” White said. “I think mentally, emotionally, whatever it might be, he’s in a much better place. We had a really good phone conversation. He’s taking some time off.”
White emphasized how Jones, who’s planning a move to heavyweight, is passionate about his UFC return. Although he didn’t outright say it, White indicated that may not have always been the case.
“He’s excited to come back,” White said. “He’s excited to fight again. This is one of those sports you have to be 100 percent in, in every way you could be in, to want to do this. I think he’s there. I think that’s where he is now. … The guy is literally undefeated and has beaten the who’s who. Now he’s going to move up to heavyweight. If he continues to win fights at heavyweight, it’s hard to deny Jon Jones.”
Jones and White engaged in a war of words in June, stemming from a contract dispute. After Jones tweeted that negotiations pertaining to a potential Francis Ngannou fight fell through due to his request for pay increase, White countered, saying the UFC light heavyweight champion asked for an “absurd” amount of money – which he later categorized as “Deontay Wilder money” or approximately $30 million.
Hours later, Jones called White a liar on Twitter and asked the UFC president to release their text conversation. At the UFC on ESPN 9 post-fight news conference, White stood by his claims about Jones’ money request, but said negotiations with Jones were improving. Shortly after, Jones tweeted again asking for his release. Jones later vacated his UFC light heavyweight title.
Six months later, it appears the relationship is healing.
Jones, 32, last competed at UFC 247 in February when he defeated Dominick Reyes by split decision.
Dana White: Jon Jones and I ‘had a really good phone conversation’ about UFC return