LAS VEGAS– UFC CEO Dana White has actually emphatically safeguarded 2 subjects maybe more than any others over the previous year. The very first, is who the pound-for-pound finest fighter is right now. The 2nd is that his response to that concern, Jon Jones, who he believes must truly battle Stipe Miocic next.
Following Dana White’s Contender Series 69 on Tuesday at the UFC Apex, White engaged with press reporters in a prolonged, back-and-forth conversation.
The argument was considerate however enthusiastic, as White verbally traded with media members, generally seasoned press reporters Kevin Iole and John Morgan.
PASADENA, CA– JANUARY 09: TUF Coach, Jon Jones (L) and Dana White, UFC President/UFC Light Heavyweight Champion, of the tv program “The Ultimate Fighter” speak throughout the FX Networks part of the 2013 Winter Television Critics Association Press Tour at the Langham Hotel and Spa on January 9, 2013 in Pasadena, California. (Photo by Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images)
Jones as pound-for-pound No. 1
The 12-plus-minute exchange started as White will cover his post-event press conference. He was jokingly inquired about Jones’ status as the “pound-for-pound GOAT.”
The argument is one that White has actually duplicated his position on progressively in current weeks. The frequency and interest has actually entertained online commenters and meme-creators.
Iole asked, “Does he have photos of you?” to which chuckles came.
“Are you guys that f * cking dumb?” White chuckled back. “You can’t be that f * cking foolish to believe that Jon Jones is not the pound-for-pound finest fighter on the planet and the GOAT … however perhaps you are?”
White withstood leave however then kicked back down to engage. Eleven more minutes of conversation occurred afterwards.
“Question me,” White stated. “Who’s much better than Jon Jones? Who’s pound-for pound much better than Jon Jones?”
Morgan leapt in and responded to, “At what point does lack of exercise come into play? All of us concur there is no one much better than Jon Jones. He is the best of perpetuity. There’s no concern about it. At some point, when you’re looking at rankings, they do have to represent what’s occurring in the company at that minute, right at that time, and in the previous 3 years, he’s had one battle.”
White’s response to that concern focused on the lack of exercise not being an option, however rather an injury, which Jones (27-1 MMA, 20-1 UFC) suffered weeks before a preliminary reserving with Miocic (20-4 MMA, 14-4 UFC) arranged for November 2023. Jones ran out action for 3 years when he went back to win heavyweight gold vs. Ciryl Gane in March 2023, and he hasn’t battled given that. Tom Aspinall (15-3 MMA, 8-1 UFC) has actually ended up being interim heavyweight champ, even scoring an unusual defense of that interim belt versus Curtis Blaydes at UFC 304 in July.
“You discuss lack of exercise which he’s just battled one time. Jon Jones was expected to eliminate,” White stated.