Alex Pereira Has Had Talks Over Fighting Jon Jones – ‘I’m The Champ’

Alex Pereira wants a super fight against UFC Heavyweight Champion Jon Jones.
Pereira is one of the best P4P fighters in the world, having won titles at middleweight and light heavyweight. He had a remarkable 2024 after stopping all of his opponents. He knocked out Jamahal Hill at UFC 300, Jiri Prochazka at UFC 303, and Khalil Rountree Jr. at UFC 307. Alex is set to face the leading contender, Magomed Ankalaev, in his next fight at UFC 313. There was a perception that Pereira was ducking Ankalaev. The Russian has not lost in his last 13 fights.
He has secured 11 victories, a draw and one no-contest. But Pereira has taken that fight, showing that he is willing to fight the best. There has been mass speculation over whether Pereira would move up to heavyweight to face Jones. Pereira has shown that he can move up to the weight class as he regularly rehydrates to around 230 pounds after making the light heavyweight limit. Jones has also said that the Pereira fight is much bigger than facing the UFC Interim Heavyweight Champion Tom Aspinall.
Jones On Pereira
“Beating Alex Pereira, that would be my 10th UFC champion that I beat. It just does more for my legacy. “I think the numbers are incredibly high, Americans love Alex Pereira, Brazilians love Alex Pereira. If I go to a barber shop and ask ‘Do you know Tom Aspinall?’ No one knows who he is outside UFC fans. Alex Pereira is a household American star and that’s what I’m aiming for. I want the big fights,” Jones stated
But the problem is that Aspinall is in line for a title shot. Tom defeated Curtis Blaydes in his last fight at UFC 304 to gain that position. Dana White has also previously ruled out a Pereira fight, stating that Aspinall was the one who was next for a shot.
That leaves serious question marks over where Pereira will go next if he beats Ankalaev. A victory over Jones at heavyweight would arguably make him one of the greatest fighters ever. He would be the first person to hold belts in three weight classes. Alex confirmed that he has had discussions with Jones about this, but whether it happens is anyone’s guess.
Pereira Reacts
“I’m the champ, I want to fight the champ. Let’s make the fight with Jon Jones… Before Jon’s last fight, we actually talked about fighting. More random talk, not too much about fighting. [He’s] not a friend or someone I talk with on the regular, but someone I respect. I know he respects me, and there’s mutual respect.”
“I think [Jon wants to fight me], because of the momentum and the risk, it’s a risk fighting Aspinall. There’s not a lot to gain there, it’s another title fight. But fighting Alex is much bigger achievement… It’s a bigger fight. We saw the fight [with Stipe] later. It was an impressive win and impressive performance,” Pereira said
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