Jon Jones downplays ‘disagreement’ with UFC over lost Alex Pereira fight at White House

Jon Jones and the UFC might not be on the same page right now, but it doesn’t mean the former two-division champion has soured on the relationship altogether.

Tension between the two parties reached a fever pitch this past March, when Jones expressed his frustration over not only being left off of the upcoming UFC White House card but with UFC CEO Dana White claiming Jones was never realistically being discussed to headline the event. Jones suggested the UFC release him if they weren’t serious about negotiating, with the issue seemingly unresolved until Saturday when Jones spoke to UFC Brasil.

Jones was in attendance at UFC 327 at Kaseya Center in Miami and was asked about what went wrong with the Alex Pereira dream fight, which instead went to Ciryl Gane.

“You know, I feel like I wanted to be compensated in a way that I wasn’t, and we just had a disagreement and that happens in life,” Jones said. “But you know what, I’m a big fan of Alex Pereira. I love the way he carries himself, he’s just such a classy fighter, potential opponent, person, big fan of him.”

Jones previously said the UFC “lowballed” him when discussing a potential Pereira fight rather than agree to a number more appropriate for an athlete on their roster that held titles at heavyweight and light heavyweight. He did not specify what the number was.

Since that public spat, the 38-year-old has made conflicting statements about retiring for good and insisting he is still physically fit enough to compete. On Saturday, he continued to avoid making a concrete statement on the matter.

“I’m not sure if I’m retired or not,” Jones said. “I’m just taking it day by day just trying to kind of figure out my body and how I feel, things like that. I’ll tell you what, being here at the UFC right now definitely has given me this fire that I haven’t felt in a little bit, so it feels very good to be here.”

One of the most decorated champions in combat sports history, Jones has previously said he only wants to continue fighting to add major names to his legacy and to make the most money possible. As far as in-cage achievements go, “Bones” is nearly unmatched.

“No, I don’t feel like I have anything to prove,” Jones said. “I feel really good.”