When Dana White joked about Jon Jones moving to middleweight after Francis Ngannou knocked out Stipe Miocic: "Do you really want to?"
Fight fans have noticed an alleged stance switch on UFC CEO Dana White's part when it comes to addressing matters relevant to Jon Jones. As of now, White is going toe-to-toe with anyone who disputes his notion that Jones should occupy the N0.1 spot on the pound-for-pound list.
It took Jones over three years to transition to the heavyweight division. Jones ensured he properly bulked up and achieved the frame required to compete against heavier fighters. During that same period, he was arrested in Las Vegas in 2021 on charges of battery domestic violence, and injuring or tampering with a vehicle.
During his time away from the sport, Francis Ngannou rose to prominence and knocked out Stipe Miocic in their rematch at UFC 260 to secure the heavyweight championship. During their first encounter at UFC 220, Miocic leveraged his experience and wrestling prowess to hand Ngannou a unanimous decision loss.
At that time, the MMA community was caught up in the what-ifs of a potential clash between Ngannou and Jones. White was asked to weigh in on the potential matchup at the UFC 260 post-fight press conference after Ngannou's spectacular win over Miocic. He replied:
"If I'm Jon Jones and I'm watching this fight then I'm moving to [185 pounds]. I could sit here all day and tell you what show me the money means. If you can say you want to fight somebody, but do you really want to [fight]?"
Catch White's comments below:
Jon Jones hails Dana White's business acumen
UFC CEO Dana White is among the very few in the MMA community who seem to be on board with the idea of Jon Jones and Stipe Miocic clashing in a legacy fight. White has also been openly vocal about Jones' position on the pound-for-pound ladder, engaging in heated debates with journalists who challenge that notion.
UFC lightweight champion Islam Makhachev and light heavyweight king Alex Pereira currently lead the ranking with the top two spots respectively. The panel of media members who vote on the UFC's pound-for-pound rankings have contested that activity and recent form plays a huge part in determining the standings.
White, meanwhile, asserts that Jones is the best fighter in the history of the sport and that his legacy justifies his position to be in the top of the weight-neutral rankings. Jones recently reacted to White's unwavering support, claiming that "real recognize real":
"You put Dana White in a business meeting with any man on this f***ing planet, there's only one man coming out on top. Real recognize real."
Check out Jones' comment below: