The UFC 309 headliner between heavyweight titans Jon Jones and Stipe Miocic is as exciting as it is polarizing. On one hand, we as fans get to witness legends throw down and put their legacies on the line. On the other hand, this fight has put the heavyweight division in limbo with an interim champion left to defend his title on the sideline. For Dana White, he never imagined that his unwavering backing of UFC heavyweight champion Jon Jones would eventually become a frequent target for criticism. These criticisms surfaced once more after the promotion revealed the champion’s custom fight kit in line with his upcoming championship fight.

The UFC introduced the custom shorts concept for headliner fights based on fighters’ personalities. While Bryce Mitchell was the first to have custom camo shorts designed for him, the promotion made custom shorts a staple since UFC 300. Since Venum became the UFC’s official apparel partner, Jon Jones competed under the new partnership just once. His UFC 309 shorts were featured in an Instagram post by ‘Happy Punch MMA’.

Jones’ shorts for this fight are red and black—a color he’s consistently favored in the Octagon—but this time, they’re more personalized. They showcase two tigers and a cross, symbolizing his faith, along with the Bible verse Philippians 4:13. It seems like Jones is invoking the divine spirit in preparation for the biggest fight of his career. With new fights, come fresh custom fighter kits – and the reveal of Jon Jones’ custom shorts had some fans shift their attention towards UFC president Dana White.

Fans mock “Husband” Dana White over Jon Jones’ Shorts

Aside from UFC superstar Conor McGregor, Jon Jones is another fighter who has played a pivotal role in Dana White’s tenure. The difference between Jones and McGregor is the fact that Jones actually defended his title as the undisputed light heavyweight champion. With over 15 years of collaboration with the UFC, Jones’ elevated the popularity of the heavier weight divisions in the UFC with his dynamic and high-IQ fighting style. With ‘Bones’ defending his heavyweight title at UFC 309, Dana White is putting all his support behind Jones, insisting that he’s greatest P4P fighter regardless of the rankings.

However, this support is not liked by all fans, as many feel that White is neglecting champions like Islam Makhachev and Tom Aspinall. In the aforementioned Instagram post, fans expressed their frustration with Dana White’s favoritism toward Jon Jones. One fan commented, in a funny, yet disrespectful tone, “Dana’s gonna be walking around all fight week in these (shorts).” Another fan echoed the sentiment, mocking the relationship between Dana White and Jon Jones, claiming, “Dana made them for his husband.”

For Dana White, loyalty is everything, and Jon Jones has always lived up to that expectation, despite his out-of-fighting antics. Throughout most of his UFC career, Jones virtually cleaned out the light heavyweight division, proving himself to be a reliable asset for Dana White. Judging by White’s support, the UFC head honcho definitely views him as a fighter who consistently delivers major returns. However, some fans believe Dana White’s support for Jones has gone too far. One fan mocked Dana White further, commenting,

Meanwhile, another fan made an inappropriate remark, claiming that if Jones loses to Stipe Miocic on November 16, “Dana’s going to be on s–cide watch for a year.” On a more positive note, some fans appreciated the custom design of Jones’ shorts, especially the Philippians 4:13 reference, which translates to “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” One fan commented, “Philippians 4:13, amazing quote in there. What a [pair of] shorts.”

What are your thoughts on fans’ criticique Dana White over Jon Jones? Do you think their reactions are reasonable, or are they overreacting? Drop your opinion below.