Jon Jones has teased a potential fight with Alex Pereira following his highly anticipated bout against Stipe Miocic. Jones, the reigning UFC heavyweight champion, has been out of action due to a pectoral injury which forced him to withdraw from a title defense scheduled for UFC 295 in November. This unexpected turn of events sidelined Jones and raised anticipation for the rescheduled fight against Miocic.
In the meantime, Tom Aspinall, stepping in on short notice, won the interim heavyweight championship by defeating Sergei Pavlovich at UFC 295.
Aspinall has expressed interest in a unification bout, but Jones seems more grabbed by other prospects. Addressing his followers on social media, Jones asked:
“Who would you guys most like to see me fight, Alex or Tom?”
Jones then elaborated on the possibility of facing light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira, praising Pereira’s rapid rise within the UFC. He speculated on the impact of such a fight:
“If Alex P became champion of the heavyweight division, would you guys consider him the GOAT? Being back in the gym has got me thinking differently. That fight after Stipe may be the next biggest move I could possibly make. This killer has already defeated so many champions and is already considered a legend to millions around the world. The most massive fight the UFC could make. Give Alex a chance to avenge all those great Brazilian champions I’ve defeated.”
Jones highlighted Pereira’s ambition to become the first UFC fighter to win titles in three different divisions.
You actually think me fighting Tom would be more massive than Alex and I colliding? Tom only matters in the UK, newsflash. Pereira is one of the most polarizing figures this sport has seen. Toms a contender who won a belt against another contender. We had to save Madison Square… https://t.co/JatZed5UUO
— BONY (@JonnyBones) May 3, 2024
While the MMA community has urged Jones to consider a unification bout with Aspinall, Jones remains focused on what he believes would be a more legacy-defining and financially rewarding match against Pereira. He expressed his views dismissively regarding a potential Aspinall fight:
“You actually think me fighting Tom would be more massive than Alex and I colliding? Tom only matters in the UK, newsflash. Pereira is one of the most polarizing figures this sport has seen… I’m thinking about dollar signs, legacy, and the big picture here. Not what UK fans are dying to see. Literally just went through this with the French fans.”
Jones has fought sparingly in recent years, with only two appearances since 2020. His last fight saw him win the vacant heavyweight title by submitting Ciryl Gane at UFC 285 in March of last year.
