SUMMARY
- Dana White and Lorenzo Fertitti did not have the best of words to say about Jon Jones as they lost their patience with him.
- Fans were in favor of White's words for Jones.
The UFC Antitrust lawsuit has brought a conversation between Dana White and former UFC CEO, Lorenzo Fertitta, from 2014, to light. White and Fertitta seemed frustrated because of Jon Jones’ attitude. Jones and the UFC management were later also involved in a feud due to the fighter’s pay demands.
Seven years ago today, rising challenger Alexander Gustafsson pushed then light heavyweight champ Jon Jones to the brink at UFC 165.
Gustafsson offered the toughest test of Jones’ career to that point in what would ultimately become the Fight of the Year for 2013. pic.twitter.com/mMgMdEY5br
— ESPN MMA (@espnmma) September 21, 2020
In May 2014, UFC wanted to book a rematch between Jones and Alexander Gustafsson. The Swedish fighter had pushed Jones, then-light heavyweight champion, to the limit at UFC 165 in 2013. Jones, however, wanted to take on Daniel Cormier instead of fighting the Swede again. White and Fertitta lost patience with Jones as he was unwilling to sign a contract extension.
“What’s up with Jones? Did he straighten up or is he still being a sc*mbag?” White texted Fertitta, according to a recently unsealed part of the UFC antitrust lawsuit.
“Still a d**che, but we’re inching closer,” Fertitta responded. “Haven’t moved on money, but sent the letter with an ultimatum.”
“Awesome,” White responded. “F*** that punk, Lorenzo. He needs to know we don’t need him, or he will f*** us over more than he already does.”
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Fans, however, turned their back on their ‘GOAT’ fighter. Many fans believed that White was correct in his texts to Fertitta. One fan wrote, “Dana just speaking facts.”
Another fan wrote, “Where’s the lies?”
One more fan blamed Jones for his conduct and wrote, “They’re spitting , jones did really f*cked up shit and cheated bruh.”
Jones, who has been in the UFC since 2008, was already facing issues with the company. He did not take up a short-notice title fight with Chael Sonnen at UFC 151. White blamed him for the event being “murdered”. Jones and White were involved in a public feud about the fighter’s pay demands a few years later.
Jon Jones vacated his UFC light heavyweight title over pay disputes with Dana White
After several controversies including a hit-and-run conviction, Jones continued his domination in the UFC. He defended his title in February 2020 in UFC 247 against Dominick Reyes. However, he was out of action for three years from then. ‘Bones’ got involved in a contract dispute with the UFC management.
Jones was eyeing a fight with heavyweight Francis Ngannou, however, he believes the UFC was not paying him enough. White publicly claimed that the fighter wanted “crazy” money.
To the light heavyweight title Veni, vidi, vici
— BONY (@JonnyBones) May 31, 2020
“He can do whatever he wants to do. He can sit out, he can fight, he can whatever,” White said in May 2020, after an event in Las Vegas, according to The Guardian. “Jon Jones can say whatever he wants publicly. It’s his God-given right here in America. He can say whatever he wants. And when he’s ready to come back and fight, he can.”
Jones vacated his light heavyweight title and did not return to the Octagon for three years. He came back in March 2023 at UFC 285 to fight for the vacant UFC heavyweight title against Ciry Gane. The heavyweight title was left vacant by Ngannou because the UFC did not agree with his pay demands as well. Jones made Gane submit in the first round to win the heavyweight title.