Jon Jones may ‘feel the fire’ to return after UFC 327 but Dana White definitely does not

NEW YORK, NY - APRIL 27: Jon Jones speaks at a press conference with UFC president Dana White at a media availability for UFC 200 at Madison Square Garden on April 27, 2016 in New York City. (Photo by Jeff Zelevansky/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Jon Jones continues to flip flop on whether or not he intends to retire from the sport, which doesn’t surprise UFC CEO Dana White one bit.

White spent the last couple of years glazing Jon Jones as the GOAT of MMA, but that all ended after “Bones” retired in June 2025, reneging on a reported $30 million offer to fight Tom Aspinall. While White will still give Jones his due, he also refuses to rely on the erratic sports star any more.

He made that clear when Jones unretired upon news that UFC White House was a thing. He said Jones was too unreliable to get booked on that card, and Jones kinda sorta proved him right by getting into a road rage incident where he (at the very least) pretended he had a gun in his hoodie pocket. That was a complete roll of the dice. Put someone else in front of Jones in that parking lot and shots could have been fired.

This week has been another roller coaster ride with Jones. One video clip had him saying “My gloves are hung up. You’ve got business Jon Jones. No more fighter Jon Jones.” The next had him saying he was reaching out to CBO Hunter Campbell, saying “Who knows what the future holds.”

“I’m not sure if I’m retired or not,” Jones admitted at UFC 327. “I’m just taking it day by day, just kind of trying to figure out my body. I’ll tell you, being here at the UFC definitely is giving me this fire that I haven’t felt in a little bit.”

Asked at the UFC 327 post-fight press conference if White had spoken to Jones about a return, the UFC boss flatly said “No.”

“And listen, how is that any different than Jon’s been in the last 10 years?” he added. “I used to tell Lorenzo, ‘You’ll never be able to build a business with this guy.’ But! When he does show up, it’s fun.”

It certainly seems like White isn’t interested in anything Jones has to offer, even if it’s not on a high profile make or break card like the White House. Jones certainly isn’t doing himself any favors by changing his tune every day on retirement. Pick a lane, guy.