Joe Rogan, the influential voice behind the UFC's commentary, has thrown a new idea into the heated discussions about the promotion's ambitious plans for a historic fight card at the White House. Rogan has presented his own bold vision for the event, which is set to celebrate America's 250th anniversary, and he is putting the controversial former champion Jon Jones at the very heart of it. This move comes despite known internal reservations within the UFC about Jones's reliability.
Rogan's Dream Lineup for a Historic Celebration
With major fighters already eyeing the prestigious June 14 date in Washington D.C., Rogan's public endorsement shows just how significant this event has become. The UFC's White House spectacle has turned into a platform for ambitious callouts, with stars like Conor McGregor, Islam Makhachev, and Jon Jones all expressing their desire to compete on the South Lawn. However, Jones's path has faced clear resistance.
While UFC president Dana White seemed encouraging of McGregor's interest, he outright dismissed Jon Jones's pitch. This rejection opened the door for Rogan, White's longtime colleague of over two decades, to make a rare public divergence and plead his case. On his popular podcast, The Joe Rogan Experience, Rogan outlined what he described as the perfect fight card for the national celebration.
"I would love to see him (Alex Pereira) fight Jon Jones at the White House," Rogan stated enthusiastically. He expanded his ideal lineup, saying, "Jon Jones vs. Pereira, for sure. Conor McGregor vs. Michael Chandler, that would be awesome. We want to have some fun, that’s a fun fight. And then you would probably want Islam Makhachev vs. Ilia Topuria, that would be insane."
Jones's Campaign and White's Trust Issues
Dana White's position on Jon Jones has been firm. Back in August, White clarified his stance, stating, "I can’t risk putting him in big positions, in a big spot, and have something go wrong. Especially the White House card." Rogan himself had previously agreed with this sentiment, acknowledging Jones's recent legal troubles and remarking, "Dana is like 'Nope, I can’t trust Jon to not f*** something up.' Which is wild."
Despite this, Jon Jones continues his campaign to be part of the historic event. Responding to White's latest comments with optimism on social media platform X, Jones wrote, "I’m still in the UFC’s drug testing pool, staying sharp, and continuing to train like a professional." He framed a potential White House bout as a personal mission, suggesting it gives him "something deeper to fight for" and adding, "Fighting for my country gives me a greater purpose!"
Jones ended his message with a promise of readiness: "I’ll keep grinding, stay patient, and stay faithful. I’m ready to fight on July 4th. #IndependenceDay."
High Stakes Ahead of the UFC's Landmark Event
The public disagreement between Joe Rogan and Dana White over Jon Jones's inclusion has added a compelling layer of drama to the buildup of one of the UFC's most anticipated events ever. Rogan's push highlights the immense symbolic and commercial value attached to the White House card. As the date approaches, all eyes will be on Dana White to see if he reconsiders his stance or holds firm on his reservations about Jones, setting the stage for a major decision that will define the historic fight night.
