Dana White Declares Jon Jones vs. Alex Pereira Matchup Unlikely After UFC 309

Jon Jones

UFC 309 solidified Jon Jones' legacy as one of the greatest fighters in mixed martial arts history. In a dominant display, Jones dismantled Stipe Miocic, showcasing a flawless mix of grappling and striking before delivering a spectacular spinning back kick to secure his victory. However, this commanding performance may have derailed his aspirations for a much-anticipated matchup against Alex Pereira, the reigning light heavyweight champion.

Dana White, UFC CEO, was resolute in his post-fight press conference:

“You know what tonight told me? There’s no f*cking way I make the Pereira fight. Jon’s too big. [Jon is a] great wrestler. Did you see how he took Stipe down in that first round? I like Alex Pereira. I like him personally. It just doesn’t make sense to make that fight.”

Despite Jones’ interest in facing Pereira in a super fight, White has long been skeptical about the matchup. He believes the size and wrestling advantage Jones holds over Pereira make the fight unappealing from a competitive perspective. White further emphasized his desire for Pereira to continue thriving in his division, stating,

“I want Pereira to stay where he is and do what he does and run the street.”

The UFC chief had previously entertained the idea of booking Jones vs. Pereira under one condition: Jones would first need to defeat interim heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall. Yet, following UFC 309, White didn’t bring up Aspinall, signaling his increasing reluctance to pursue the fight.

That said, White hinted that fan pressure or persistent demands from both fighters might sway his decision.

“If they both want it bad enough and they’re both f*cking hounding me or something, maybe I would do it,” he admitted.

However, for now, White is firm in his stance, focusing on keeping the fighters in their respective divisions to maintain competitive balance.

While fans may dream of this clash between two champions, it seems unlikely that the UFC will book Jones vs. Pereira anytime soon. For now, both legends appear set to dominate their divisions separately, leaving super fight speculation to the imagination.