White Responds To Jones 'Homie For Life' Message

Dana White has responded to Jon Jones calling him a "homie for life," and the answer was more revealing than a simple acceptance of the peace offering.

Jones and White crossed paths at UFC 329, where Jones was present to corner Gable Steveson through his first-round debut win. The two had not been in the same room publicly since their feud escalated earlier this year — Jones had publicly requested his UFC release after being excluded from the Freedom 250 card at the White House, with White citing concerns about Jones's reliability outside the octagon. The selfie Jones posted afterward, with White's "homie for life" caption, signalled a reset.

White confirmed the reset and explained his view of the relationship at the UFC 329 post-fight press conference: "Yeah, and likewise. Me and Jon have our — there's the business side and then there's the personal side, but even on the business side, I always respect Jon Jones. Jon Jones knows who he is, and Jon Jones knows what he does and there's no delusion there. I say, and I'll say again: He's the greatest of all time."

The implication is significant. White is describing a fighter who won some of the most important fights in UFC history while operating in personal circumstances that would have derailed most people — and beating elite, fully-prepared opponents anyway.

The "greatest of all time" designation from White has never changed, even through the public disputes and the White House exclusion and the requested release. Jones remains under contract but retired. He spent UFC 329 week as a coach and cornerman for Steveson, a role that appears to suit the chapter of his career he is currently in. The selfie appears to show the dispute has been resolved.