Dana White risks major Jon Jones row days just before UFC 309 after refusing to accept MMA icon’s retirement ultimatum
DANA WHITE is seemingly refusing to give into Jon Jones’ retirement ultimatum.
The former pound-for-pound king returns to the octagon early on Sunday morning at UFC 309 in New York to defend his heavyweight title against Stipe Miocic.
Jones, 37, has hinted long his Madison Square Garden melee with Miocic could be his swansong and has threatened to hang up his gloves unless he gets a “super-fight” with surging star Alex Pereira.
White, however, insists the only fight he’ll take part in next if he’s victorious at MSG is a unification bout with interim champion Tom Aspinall.
During an appearance on The Jim Rome Show, White said: “Jon will do what he does on Saturday.
“If he wins, he’ll disappear for a while and the competitive spirit will start bubbling up again.
“And then money will talk. If he doesn’t decide to retire, he absolutely, positively fights Aspinall. He’s not fighting Pereira.
“(Pereira) was a middleweight who moved up to light heavyweight. He’s also a kickboxer who has done very, very well in MMA.
“His wrestling isn’t even near the level of Jon Jones, and Jon Jones is way bigger than him.
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How to Watch UFC 309
The UFC makes it's annual visit to New York City on November 16 for another blockbuster pay-per-view card.
UFC 309 will take place at the iconic Madison Square Garden, which provided some unforgettable moments since mixed martial arts was legalised in New York state in 2016.
Topping the bill at the ‘World’s Most Famous Arena’ is the eagerly-anticipated heavyweight title fight between champion Jon Jones and former titleholder Stipe Miocic.
And in the co-main event of the evening, Michael Chandler will throw down with former lightweight champion and fellow fan favourite Charles Oliveira.
UFC 309 is undoubtedly one of the most anticipated cards of what has been another massive year for MMA’s top promotion.
And fans in the UK and Ireland can watch all the action from what promises to be an incredible night at MSG live on TNT Sports Box Office.
The penultimate pay-per-view card of the year will be available to purchase for a mere £19.99.
UFC 309 will also be available to buy on Discovery+, EE TV, Prime Video, Virgin Media TV and Sky Sports.
And fight fans don’t need to subscribe to TNT Sports to buy the star-studded event.
Watch UFC 309: Jones v Miocic exclusively live on TNT Sports Box Office from 1am on Saturday 16 November.
For more info visit: tntsports.co.uk/boxoffice
“If Jon Jones wants to fight again after Saturday night, he will fight Tom Aspinall.”
White doubled down on his insistence that Jones will face Brit Aspinall during the UFC 309 press conference early this morning.
But Jones insists he won’t do business with the Wigan warrior, whose attempts to secure a historic unification bout have irked him.
He said: “There’s a part of me that does [want to compete with him], but if I’m being completely honest, I feel like Tom’s been such an a**hole that I don’t want to do business with him.
“His fans have been so annoying. Obviously, you don’t get this far getting affected by fans and whatnot, but he’s just an a**hole.
“He’s 30, so he’s from this influencer generation where you hop online, t-shirt sales, and all that.
“I’m past that type of stuff. If you had a little bit more respect, maybe we could’ve worked something out…
“This is a business, and fighting me gives him an opportunity to change his life forever.
“I don’t even want to give him the opportunity, he just played his cards wrong with me.
“I’m three years away from being a 40-year-old, grown man.
“The press conference, going through the whole shebang with him, I’d just rather not do.
“[Alex] Pereira on the other hand, is respectful, cool, and doesn’t say much.
“I’ll do business with you, I’d risk it all with a human being like you.
“And [Pereira] absolutely has the accolades to back up your s***. This other guy is just a big mouth, who is just hot today.”
Watch UFC 309: Jones v Miocic exclusively live on TNT Sports Box Office from 1am on Saturday 16 November.
For more info visit: tntsports.co.uk/boxoffice.