Jon Jones has responded to being left off the UFC Freedom 250 lineup after previously campaigning to compete at the landmark event in Washington DC on June 14.
The former heavyweight champion had pushed for a spot on the card, which took place in front of the White House, but the UFC instead booked Ciryl Gane vs. Alex Pereira for the interim heavyweight title. UFC president Dana White said Jones was "never remotely" in consideration to be added to the UFC Freedom 250 lineup.
Jones, who vacated his heavyweight title and chose retirement instead of a unification bout against Tom Aspinall, reflected on watching the historic card from the outside. "I absolutely loved it," he said. "It really showed me – it humbled me, and it showed me that our sport is at a prestigious level right now. When I first started MMA, we weren't allowed to compete in New York state. People looked at it as taboo, a very weird thing to do. Now, it's like a very honorable sport to be a part of – probably one of the most honorable sports to be a part of right now in history."
"I'm grateful to be considered one of the best in this sport's history," Jones added, noting the impact of the Washington DC showcase on how he views his place in MMA. "It makes me feel a lot more important since the White House card."
