"Basically, what we did is the matchmakers started talking to everybody, seeing what fights were possible then came back to me. And I chose the card. Tom [Aspinall, heavyweight champion] obviously won't be ready for the White House fight. That's why it's an interim title."
"He can barely run. He retired because of his hips, he's got arthritis in his hips. Doctors say he should have a hip replacement. Add that on top of all the other reasons that I wouldn't- the Jon Jones thing is bullsh*t."
UFC 326 served as the launch point for Freedom 250, the promotion's upcoming White House event. Ilia Topuria and Justin Gaethje headline in a lightweight title fight, while Alex Pereira moves to heavyweight to face Ciryl Gane for an interim title in the co-main event. Dana White explained that matchmakers identified possible fights before he selected the final card. The interim title was created because heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall remains unavailable due to an eye injury from his previous fight with Gane. One fight fell off the card at the last minute under unclear circumstances. Jon Jones was notably absent from the announcement, with White citing health issues including hip arthritis and mobility problems as reasons for his exclusion.
Read at Cageside Press
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