Dana White is still calling Jon Jones the greatest fighter in UFC history despite their public falling out over the UFC White House card, comparing Jones to Michael Jordan in a recent interview.
Speaking to The New Yorker, White made his position on Jones’ legacy clear.
“If you’re looking for your Michael Jordan, it would be Jon Jones, who is the greatest. Jon Jones is in his forties now. He’s undefeated still, never been beat. And he’s moved up and down weight classes. It is very, very unique and hard to be undefeated in the UFC.”
The praise comes despite an increasingly hostile relationship between the two sides. Jones requested his UFC release after claiming to have been lowballed on an offer to fight at UFC White House on June 14, while White denied ever entertaining Jones for that card. Jones has since been publicly pursuing a contract exit, most recently requesting the contact details of Tyron Woodley’s lawyer Sam Spira, who believes a legal route out may exist.
Jones has also expressed interest in fighting Francis Ngannou outside the UFC and has teased a potential boxing venture, revealing he expects talks with IBA president Umar Kremlev about entering the ring if he can secure his release.