Alex Pereira isn't planning on waiting around indefinitely for Jon Jones to decide if he wants a fight – a stark contrast to Tom Aspinall's situation. But Pereira's confidence stems from a belief that Jones is indeed interested.
Following a spectacular first-round knockout victory against Magomed Ankalaev at UFC 320, Pereira, now a two-time light heavyweight champion, is back on top. This dominant win avenged his previous loss to Ankalaev at UFC 313 in March. While a title defense against the rising Carlos Ulberg is a possibility, the buzz around a potential move to heavyweight or a super-fight with Jon Jones continues to grow. Pereira firmly believes that if he and his team initiate discussions, Jones will be eager to make the fight a reality.
"I don’t think so because that’s something he said in interviews he wants," Pereira stated at a recent Q&A in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, when asked if he anticipated a long wait for Jones's decision. He elaborated, “I think he’s on a certain age that’s a little elevated for the sport, like mine, and we don’t have time to waste. I think he will be sincere if he’s interested or not.” In essence, Pereira believes Jones's age and career stage will push him to be decisive about taking the fight if the interest is genuine. But here's where it gets controversial... some fans argue that Jones is simply avoiding tough matchups to protect his legacy.
This sentiment is particularly relevant given the criticism Jones faced for not fighting interim UFC heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall while holding the undisputed title. Aspinall repeatedly expressed his desire to unify the belts, but Jones instead announced a brief retirement in June, relinquishing his title – only to then declare his intention to return for a fight at the next June's UFC White House event. This back-and-forth has led many to question Jones's commitment to facing top contenders.
Regardless, a fight between Jones, who has only officially lost once in his 30-fight career (due to a disqualification), and Pereira is almost guaranteed to generate massive interest. And this is the part most people miss... the sheer drawing power of this matchup could eclipse even some of the biggest fights in UFC history. Currently, Pereira is keeping his strategy close to his chest regarding how the fight would unfold.
“This is MMA,” Pereira explained. “Those who know my work, I always say in my interviews that you either lose or win, but I’ll do my best and prepare myself well to come out with the victory.” This humble approach underscores Pereira's dedication to preparation and his understanding of the unpredictable nature of MMA.
A former kickboxing sensation, Pereira has achieved remarkable success in MMA despite having only 16 professional fights. He captured the UFC middleweight title in his eighth fight with a knockout of his longtime rival Israel Adesanya and then claimed the light heavyweight title in his eleventh fight by defeating Jiri Prochazka. He then defended that title three consecutive times in 2024, each time via KO/TKO, further solidifying his reputation as a dangerous and versatile fighter.
Pereira is undoubtedly a future UFC Hall of Famer and one of the greatest fighters of this era. However, he refrains from speculating whether a victory over Jones would elevate him above Jones in the all-time rankings. And this is where it gets interesting... some argue that a win over Jones, considered by many to be the GOAT, would undeniably cement Pereira's legacy as the best ever. Others believe that Jones's overall body of work is simply too vast to be surpassed by a single victory.
“Results and records are not on my control,” Pereira stated. “Sometimes we do things and people who have to validate that don’t do it. I’ll only do my job and if they think I’m the best or the No. 2 or in last place, that’s not in my control.” Pereira's focus remains on performing at his best, leaving the judgment of his legacy to others.
What do you think? Would a Pereira victory over Jones make him the greatest of all time, or is Jones's legacy too secure? Or, could it be that the styles of these two fighters would make it a lackluster fight? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
