A heartfelt apology from Jon Jones: 'I was wrong.'
In a recent interview, the legendary MMA fighter, Jon Jones, has opened up about his regrets and the fallout from the highly anticipated fight with Tom Aspinall. Jones, a two-division champion, is now taking responsibility for the match that never happened, and he's hoping to make amends with UFC CEO Dana White.
For months, Dana White was certain that Jones would defend his Heavyweight title against the interim champion, Aspinall. It was set to be a mega-fight, but it all fell apart. Jones announced his retirement, and Aspinall went on to become the undisputed champion, recently defending his title just days ago.
But here's where it gets controversial... White revealed that Jones had initially agreed to the fight, but then changed his mind. MMA journalist Ariel Helwani even reported that Jones was offered a mind-blowing $30 million for the match, which he turned down after initially accepting.
Now, Jones is owning up to his mistake. In a candid moment, he expressed his disappointment and admitted, 'I do admit guilt, I was wrong.' He hopes to reconcile with White, especially as he sets his sights on the historic UFC White House event next year.
'My most immediate goal is to be a part of that White House card,' Jones said. 'I want to give Dana his space, but he's changed my life and my children's lives. I'm forever grateful. We had a verbal agreement, but it didn't work out. I wish I could apologize to him face-to-face and move on.'
Jones added with a touch of humor, 'When Dana's feeling me, I'm probably one of his favorites. When he's not, I might be the reason for his bald head!'
Despite the hiccup, Jones is now eyeing a super fight against Alex Pereira at the UFC White House. However, Dana White has expressed his doubts, citing trust issues and the Aspinall incident. With six months to go until the White House card, though, there's still a chance for a comeback story. Will Jones be able to win back Dana White's trust and secure his spot on the historic card? Only time will tell.
What do you think? Should Jones be given another chance, or has he burned his bridges with the UFC? Let us know in the comments!
