Dana White commented on Jon Jones’ first heavyweight UFC title defense, Trump being at the fights and much more from New York city in the USA.
It was a mega event not just for the UFC but for America and sport worldwide in the end.
Speaking after the fight at the post-fight UFC press conference UFC President Dana White said:
“What’s up, gang? Attendance was 20,200, and the gate was $16.7 million — the second-highest grossing event ever. It’s also the fourth highest-grossing event of all time. We hold the number one, two, three, four, six, eight, and nine spots in all-time gate revenue.
As for the fighters, Oliveira and Chandler, Jon Jones, and Brabo and Elliott all earned $50,000 bonuses each. It was tough to pick the winners, but they all deserved it. Congratulations to them.
Regarding the main event, Jon Jones continues to prove why he’s the greatest fighter ever. I’ve been saying this for years, but to see him do what he did to Stipe, especially with that spinning back kick – just incredible. From the very first kick, Jon’s fight IQ was off the charts. There’s no denying it now: Jon Jones is the best fighter in the world.
Look, Stipe came in with a lot of focus and was in great shape. He looked physically ready to win, and he was fighting to prove a point. But Jon picked him apart systematically. The jab was unbelievable, the leg kicks were on point, and every time Jon kicked to the body, I thought it was over. Jon’s fight IQ is unreal – he’s 37, almost 38, and still looked incredible tonight. I just don’t see how anyone can doubt that Jon is the greatest fighter in history. As long as he’s active, he’s the pound-for-pound best.
Moving forward, what’s next for Jon? Well, I’ve said it before: I want him to fight Tom Aspinall next. That’s shaping up to be one of the biggest heavyweight fights of all time, and it will be. Jon said he wants to be compensated well, and I get it — he should be. He’s seen what fighters like Jake Paul are making, and Jon deserves to be in that conversation.
We’ll sit down with Jon soon, but right now, I’ve got Tom waiting outside. We’ll get that deal done when the time is right. As for Stipe, he made it clear that he’s retiring. He’s had a legendary career. When you look at what he’s accomplished — being a firefighter, having a great career in the UFC — he’s earned it. I think he’s going to have a great life after this.
As for the co-main event, Michael Chandler was in another Fight of the Night performance. It was a weird finish in that fifth round, with a lot of blows to the back of the head. A lot of fans and media seemed confused about the referee’s actions. I agree — the judging and refereeing have been strange lately, and there’s definitely room for improvement.
Regarding Charles Oliveira, he’s made it clear he wants to face the winner of Islam vs. Makhachev, and we’ll fly him out from Brazil for that fight to watch it live.
Now, as for the gloves, we’ve made the decision to go back to the older style. We just don’t have enough of them yet, but it’s a permanent change. We tried the new gloves, and while there were good intentions, they didn’t work out.
Jim Miller had another big win tonight, and he said he wants to get to 50 UFC fights and then retire. He’s serious about that, and I’ll hold him to it.
Lastly, I have to mention Mike Tyson. He recently tweeted that he almost died over the summer, having to undergo multiple blood transfusions, but he’s healthy again. And after his performance against Jake Paul, I have to admit I was wrong. Mike said he could still handle Jake, and he was right. Even though he’s 60, Jake couldn’t do anything to him. Mike’s always been a star, and when he shows up, people make money.
On the topic of Jon vs. Tom, if that fight happens, it will be the biggest heavyweight fight in UFC history, without a doubt. Tom has speed and incredible athleticism, but Jon has the highest fight IQ I’ve ever seen. I can’t predict how that fight will play out, but it’s going to be amazing.
As for Michael Chandler, he’s one of those fighters who always puts on a show, win or lose. Fans love to watch him, and I’m happy to have him around.
Now, about Jon’s negotiations, I know Tom is waiting, but there’s no exact timeline. Jon will do his thing, then we’ll meet and get it done.
On a different note, we’re lucky to have Kid Rock here tonight. He did a free concert for the troops back in 2004 when I was in the Army, and I want to publicly thank him for that. Nobody supports the troops like Kid Rock does, and he’s a good man.
We’ve been talking about doing more events in New York, but we’ve got a lot of other cities we’re focusing on too. 2025 will see us expanding to places like Chicago and Seattle, but New York is always special.
Looking ahead to the next pay-per-view, we’ve got a flyweight title fight with Kai Kara-France and a UFC newcomer in the main event. Some people may not know him yet, but that’s my job to get them excited. As for the flyweight division, we’ve got a lot of talent coming up.
And finally, about Donald Trump — yes, he’s a close friend of mine. But regardless of where you stand politically, it’s clear there’s been a sense of relief in the country, and that’s something we can all feel. Things have been getting better, and we’re in a good place right now.”
The UFC got a big boost with Trump, Elon Musk, Tulsi Gabbard and many others being at the fight this weekend in New York.
The power of celebrity and politicians being attached to the UFC brand brought it again to a new level tonight outside of sport — but would not have been possible without what Jones did inside the cage tonight.
