Alex Pereira is now refusing to rule out the prospect of a move to heavyweight to face the best fighter of all time.
The light-heavyweight champion has generally tended to play down the prospect of a super-fight against Jon Jones for an unprecedented third world title. But he is now looking at the possibility very seriously, and believes the bout is soon to be ‘inevitable’.
First, the heavyweight champion must defend his undisputed title against the seemingly unbeatable interim champion Tom Aspinall. But Pereira then feels that neither of them will have any roadblocks to a potential meeting.
Alex Pereira says Jon Jones fight will soon be ‘inevitable’
While he has his own title defence against Magomed Ankalaev to focus on, Alex Pereira also understands that there needs to be a unification of the belts at heavyweight. But he reckons once that has happened and if Jones is to win, then a fight between the pair may be on the horizon finally.
“I don’t know because he has to go through Aspinall first,” Pereira told media at the World MMA Awards in Las Vegas yesterday. “That’s his next challenge, but I think if he passes Tom Aspinall then it’s going to be inevitable.”
That is a big ‘if’ from Pereira, particularly given the run which Aspinall has been on since joining the UFC. Aside from a freak injury against Curtis Blaydes that he suffered a few years ago, he’s had a spotless record, and only been out of the first round just once in the promotion, and won that one in the second.
Jon Jones would rather face Alex Pereira than Tom Aspinall
While Jon Jones has been warming to the idea of facing Aspinall lately, he has always tended towards preferring the idea of facing Alex Pereira. At the age of 37, the all-time great wants to cement his legacy with big name wins, and feels the Brazilian is a much more notable name for the record than his British rival.
“He does nothing for me,” Jones said of Aspinall before his win over Stipe Miocic at UFC 309 last month. “If you’re a person that wants to see me really challenged, then I get it. Like I said, seven years younger, like 35 pounds bigger than me, right?
“I get it. ‘Jon is so good, we finally found someone way younger and way bigger than him. Let’s see how he does against that.’ I get that narrative. But for me, if you were my manager, if you were on my team, why not fight against Alex Pereira?
“That’s a guy who’s the same age as you, and we walk around the same exact size. Now, I had to eat a big breakfast because I’m getting underneath 235lb. Alex Pereira walks around at like 240, and he has magnificent accolades. Business-wise, it makes more sense.
“Fight the nobody that may be more dangerous, or fight the guy with all the accolades, who’s incredibly dangerous but actually will affect your legacy? Me beating Ciryl Gane didn’t change anything for me, just gave me a few more millions.
“And it would be the same for Tom Aspinall whereas, when you look back, ‘Jon just beat Alex Pereira,’ it’s bigger. It’s just bigger. And anybody who can’t understand that logic simply doesn’t want to.”
Dana White has insisted Jon Jones is next for Tom Aspinall
However, it seems that there is now way of getting to Jones vs Pereira without first seeing a fight between the heavyweight champion and Tom Aspinall. That’s according to UFC boss Dana White, who has been pretty clear about his plans for the division.
“This is a fight that they both wanted; it’s the fight that needs to happen,” White told the media after UFC 309 in New York. “There’s no doubt that Tom Aspinall is a bad boy. But Tom’s got to wait until these legends settle their fight, and then Tom’s going to get his chance.
“Because I believe that if Jon Jones wins, yeah, Jon Jones takes that fight. Really, we’re going to have to work it out with Jon, however it plays out. But Jon Jones is a guy who loves to prove to everybody that they’re wrong, too.”