Longtime heavyweight fighter Jon Jones announced his retirement over the summer before publicly pleading for UFC czar Dana White to let him fight at the White House next June. 

Jones was at Dirty Boxing 4 to watch his teammate, gold medalist Gabie Stevenson, on Thursday. He once again made a plea to White. “Dana, please, bro. I’m training, I feel great, I’m healthy. I’d be so honored to represent our country and do what I do best,” he said when asked about the White House fight.

Jones hasn’t fought since UFC 309, when he retained his UFC Heavyweight crown against Stipe Miocic with a commanding win, celebrating by doing the famed Donald Trump dance.

Trump was in attendance that day, and Jones is keen to fight for him once again. However, White decsively poured cool water over this dream in September.

“[Jon Jones] is the greatest of all time, I still know that to be a fact,” White started. “But he’s not the greatest of all time, ‘guy you can count on that you know 100 per cent is going to be solid and be there’.

“Say what you want about Conor McGregor because people like to talk s— about that too, but he is that guy.He’s always been that guy, I’ve been in the room and on the phone with him.

“There are a lot of guys who talk tough publicly, but behind the scenes, it’s a whole other ball game. When the s— hits the fan, who’s really willing to go out there? Conor McGregor has always been that guy.”

Jones, 38, has a career record of 28-1 (his one loss came to Matt Hamill in 2009 via disqualification). Despite retiring over the summer, he seemed to be angling for a fight against Alex Pereira.

“Alex, I’d be down to bring the highest skill level to the White House,” he tweeted. “I appreciate the respect you showed. Let’s dance.”

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Speaking on ESPN, Cheal Sonnen urged Jones to give up his White House dream. “Kon Jones does not appear to get it. He just doesn’t,” he said. “As successful as he’s been in this business, he doesn’t really pay attention to it.

“It is very difficult to book Jon on the White House card. … We know nothing about it because the card isn’t here yet. If Jon Jones would like to be part of that, I think it’s very obvious that he needs to do something first.”