Alex Pereira gained’t wait round for Jon Jones like Tom Aspinall did.
Primarily as a result of he doesn’t assume he’ll should.
“Poatan” is as soon as once more on prime of the MMA world, following a shocking first-round knockout of Magomed Ankalaev at UFC 320. The quick end evened the rating with Ankalaev, who defeated Pereira at UFC 313 in March, and made Pereira a two-time mild heavyweight champion.
Whereas Pereira might find yourself defending his title in opposition to streaking contender Carlos Ulberg subsequent, there was loads of hypothesis that he might transfer as much as heavyweight or signal on for an oft-discussed megafight with just lately retired (after which un-retired) UFC star Jon Jones. If Pereira and his staff places the gears in movement, he believes Jones is keen to make the combat occur.
“I don’t assume so as a result of that’s one thing he mentioned in interviews he desires,” Pereira mentioned Friday at a Q&A in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, when requested if he’ll have to attend a very long time to listen to from Jones. “I believe he’s on a sure age that’s slightly elevated for the game, like mine, and we don’t have time to waste. I believe he will probably be honest if he’s or not.”
Jones acquired a heavy quantity of criticism from media and followers for not preventing interim UFC heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall whereas Jones formally held the promotion’s undisputed title. For months, Aspinall made it clear he was excited about unifying the belts, however Jones as a substitute briefly retired in June and relinquished his share of the heavyweight crown earlier than later saying he would come out of retirement for the possibility to combat on the subsequent June’s UFC White Home occasion.
Regardless, a matchup between Jones—who has solely misplaced as soon as in his 30-fight profession and that was because of disqualification—and Pereira is bound to garner loads of curiosity ought to it’s signed. For now, Pereira is maintaining his playing cards near his vest so far as how the combat would play out.
“That is MMA,” Pereira mentioned. “Those that know my work, I all the time say in my interviews that you simply both lose or win, however I’ll do my finest and put together myself nicely to return out with the victory.”
A former kickboxing star, Pereira has put collectively an unbelievable listing of accomplishments in MMA regardless of competing simply 16 instances below that ruleset. He gained the UFC middleweight title in his eighth professional bout with a late knockout of longtime rival Israel Adesanya, after which gained the UFC mild heavyweight title in his eleventh professional bout by defeating Jiri Prochazka. He went on to defend that title three consecutive instances in 2024, every time by KO/TKO.
Pereira is a surefire UFC Corridor of Fame inductee and inarguably one of many best fighters of this period, however he’s not excited about speculating whether or not a win over Jones would put him forward of Jones on the best of all time listing.
“Outcomes and information will not be on my management,” Pereira mentioned. “Typically we do issues and individuals who should validate that don’t do it. I’ll solely do my job and in the event that they assume I’m the most effective or the No. 2 or in final place, that’s not in my management.”
Guilherme Cruz contributed to this report.
