Jon Jones is absolutely convinced he’d “quickly” tap out Alex Pereira in a heavyweight fight. He’s more assured than ever, and he’s not mincing words about why he thinks “Poatan” isn’t ready for the big boys, reinforcing a stance Jones has angled for repeatedly.
Pereira’s Heavyweight Jump Has Jones Unconvinced
“Bones” Jones has kept a sharp eye on Pereira, even though Jones himself hasn’t fought professionally since defending the heavyweight title against Stipe Miocic way back in November 2024. And what he’s seen? It’s only beefed up his confidence. Pereira is totally committed to the heavyweight division, but his debut there did not go as planned, losing by second-round knockout to Ciryl Gane at UFC Freedom 250 in June. Jones is just not sold on Pereira making it work in that weight class.
Jones believes Pereira would be “easy pickings.” He told ALF Global in a pre-recorded interview that dropped Tuesday, “I watched Pereira train. I see his level of wrestling, and it’s way behind. I feel as if Stipe Miocic is a true heavyweight. He’s a big, big boy. Ciryl Gane, when you see him in person, he’s a big, big boy. Alex Pereira is not a big, big boy. He’s a lean guy. I think right now he weighs maybe 250.” Pereira, a former middleweight and light heavyweight champ, looked “diminutive” against Gane.
Jones’ Path to Victory is Clear, But Will He Even Fight?
Jones ruled the light heavyweight division before grabbing that heavyweight title. Pereira wanted a historic third division title, but Jones thinks heavyweight is a “bridge too far” for him, even against “Bones.” Jones laid out his hypothetical game plan: “I feel as if my physical strength would have been too much for him. I felt as if the moment I would have gotten him to the ground, my submissions would have come pretty quickly. I mean, everyone knows that. I think that’s the clearest path to victory for me against Alex Pereira.”
But here’s the kicker: they’re not fighting. Jones did return to the UFC drug testing pool less than two months after announcing his retirement and vacating the heavyweight title, but there’s still no guarantee he’ll step back into the Octagon. The UFC has to offer him fights, but he’s not actually obligated to take ’em. He previously campaigned for a fight with Pereira that just never happened, and he opted to vacate his championship instead of unifying it with interim champ Tom Aspinall. These days, Jones is focused on coaching U.S. Olympic gold medalist Gable Steveson, who already had a successful debut at UFC 329.
So, while Jones is still a fan of Pereira, supporting him and wanting him to do well, the fight seems like a pipe dream. Jones has clearly mapped out how he’d dominate, but it looks like we’ll only get to see him guiding the next generation of talent for now.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by CBS Sports.
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