Mar 4, 2016; Las Vegas, NV, USA; UFC president Dana White (left) and fighter Jon Jones during a press conference prior to weigh-ins for UFC 196 at MGM Grand Garden Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

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Dana White Takes Multiple Hilarious Digs At Jon Jones During UFC 317 Post-Fight Press Conference!

Dana White takes funny jabs at Jon Jones during the UFC 317 post fight press conference in Las Vegas!

UFC CEO Dana White has never been one to hold back his thoughts. Over the years, he’s built a reputation for speaking his mind, whether it’s about fighter contracts, event logistics, or the occasional drama that unfolds in the octagon. His relationship with fighters has been complex: part businessman, part promoter, and sometimes part comedian. White knows how to work a room, and he’s mastered the art of delivering zingers that get people talking long after the cameras stop rolling.

The UFC 317 post-fight press conference gave White another perfect opportunity to showcase his wit. This time, his target was none other than Jon Jones, the former light heavyweight and heavyweight champion. Jones has been a constant source of headlines throughout his career, from his incredible fighting skills to his various controversies outside the octagon. Their relationship has been a rollercoaster ride of praise, frustration, and everything in between. White has always had a soft spot for Jones as a fighter, but he’s also never hesitated to call him out when necessary.

Dana White Still Adamant On Jon Jones Being The Pound-for-Pound Great

At the UFC 317 post fight press conferecnce, reporters asked White about Ilia Topuria’s potential claim to the pound-for-pound throne after his impressive performance. White took an unexpected detour. Instead of giving a straightforward answer about the Georgian-Spanish fighter, he decided to throw Jones into the conversation. White stated that if it was up to him, Jones would still be the number one pound-for-pound fighter in the world. The comment caught everyone off guard, sparkling laughter.

“If I did [determine the P4P rankings, Jon Jones would be the pound for pound number 1.”

What made this moment particularly interesting was the timing and delivery. White’s comment came across as both genuine praise and a subtle dig at the current state of the division. Jones has always been considered one of the greatest fighters of all time, but his sporadic activity and retirement has made it difficult to justify keeping him at the top of pound-for-pound rankings.

Dana White Surprised At Jon Jones Apparently Training

The second memorable moment came when White was asked about Gable Steveson’s recent comments. The Olympic gold medalist wrestler had mentioned that he was training with Jones and felt ready to make his MMA debut. White’s response was pure gold, delivered with his trademark smirk and perfect timing. He expressed surprise that Jones was actually training, given his retirement from the sport.

“Jon Jones is training? Holy Sh*t! That’s news to me. What is he [training] on the reality show in Thailand?”

The comment was clearly meant to be humorous, but it also carried an undertone of skepticism about Jones. White knows Jones well enough to understand this. And his reaction suggested he wasn’t entirely convinced about the seriousness of this training partnership with Gable Stevenson.

(Image Credit: Mark J. Rebilas – Imagn Images)

Dana White

Jon Jones

UFC 317

Zaid Quraishi

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I am a dedicated MMA and Boxing content writer at The Playoffs. I was instantly hooked on MMA after watching the fight between Lyoto Machida vs. Gegard Mousasi back in 2014, and since then, i have been an avid writer with a deep love for the sport and its techniques, providing readers with a thorough understanding of the sport. My favorite aspect of working at The Playoffs is the creative freedom it provides. The diverse range of topics, from listicles and SEO to news articles, keeps me engaged and motivates me to continuously improve my skills! I aim to capture the excitement of the combat sports world in my writing, acting as the middleman between fighters and their die-hard fans. It is kind of like a referee, but with words!