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In the ever-evolving landscape of the UFC, fans and fighters alike have been buzzing about a potential super-fight between Jon Jones and Alex Pereira. However, UFC CEO Dana White put an emphatic stop to the speculation during his recent appearance on The Pat McAfee Show. When asked if Pereira, the reigning UFC light heavyweight champion, would get a chance to challenge Jones for the heavyweight title, White responded with a resounding “no.”
The idea of Pereira moving up to heavyweight has gained traction, especially after his stellar performances in 2024. Pereira, a former middleweight champion and GLORY Kickboxing legend, has already solidified his status as a UFC superstar. This year alone, he stepped in on short notice twice, headlining UFC 300 with a first-round knockout of Jamahal Hill and then headlining UFC 303 with a second-round knockout of Jiri Prochazka. These victories led to widespread support for Pereira to take on Jon Jones in what many are calling a potential “mega-fight.”
Pereira’s coach, Plinio Cruz, echoed the enthusiasm, stating,
“I think it’d be a mega-fight. I think [it’d be] the biggest fight this sport has ever seen. We all respect Jon Jones a lot. And I think it’s going to be just a great fight.”
Cruz, however, acknowledged that the timing isn’t right, citing the current state of the heavyweight division and the need for Jones to first face Stipe Miocic, likely later this year.
Jon Jones, widely regarded as the greatest light heavyweight in UFC history, is currently the UFC heavyweight champion. After a long hiatus due to injury, Jones is expected to defend his title against Miocic in November at Madison Square Garden. White, a staunch advocate for Jones, doubled down on his belief that Jones is the No. 1 pound-for-pound fighter in the world, dismissing critics with a blunt,
“Anybody who thinks Jon Jones isn’t the pound-for-pound best fighter in the world should never be discussing fighting ever. Period, end of story.”
For now, the dream of a Jones vs. Pereira showdown remains just that—a dream. But in the unpredictable world of MMA, anything can happen.
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