Jon Jones gains new momentum in his campaign to headline the UFC event at the White House. The former heavyweight and light heavyweight champion pushes harder than any other fighter for the June 14 main event in Washington D.C. Dana White announced Jones’ retirement shortly before President Donald Trump revealed plans for UFC fights on the White House lawn in 2026. That announcement sparked an immediate reversal from Jones, who claimed the top spot alongside star Conor McGregor. White dismissed Jones’ request and labeled him too unreliable for such a historic stage. Now a dominant active champion calls for White to reconsider.
Merab Dvalishvili Voices Support for Jones’ Main-Event Ambition
Merab Dvalishvili would stand near the front if the UFC based its headline choice purely on merit. The bantamweight champion from Georgia continues an outstanding season with three successful title defenses. His fourth defense arrives next Saturday when he faces Petr Yan at UFC 323. Despite his accomplishments, he believes other American fighters deserve the stage more than he does. He highlights Jon Jones as the most deserving option. Dvalishvili shared his thoughts in an interview with Stake. He said the opportunity would be a huge honor. He also mentioned his Georgian background. He noted that many American fighters want the headline role. He added that athletes like Jon Jones earned that position.
Dvalishvili Stays Humble and Accepts Any Spot on the Card
Fans praise Dvalishvili for his consistent humility. He often places others above himself in pound-for-pound discussions. He showed this attitude again when speaking about the White House event. He talked during a media scrum before UFC 320, where he beat Cory Sandhagen. He said he would accept a prelim fight if it allowed him to take part in the historic event. He stated that he would love to fight at the White House. He added that he would gladly open the prelims if necessary. For him, participation matters more than billing. He mentioned that Ilia Topuria, Conor McGregor and Jon Jones also want to compete there.
