For the first time UFC heavyweight champion Jon Jones has shown interest in another fight after he eventually gets to go up against Stipe Miocic, and the opponent he has in his sights isn’t current interim champ Tom Aspinall.
Instead Jones has suggested that he’s starting to warm up to the idea of fighting current 205lb kingpin Alex Pereira, who recently defended his belt for the first time by KO’ing Jamahal Hill in the main event of UFC 300, and has made it clear he’s open to move up in weight in search of a third title belt.
“If Alex P became champion of the heavyweight division, would you guys consider him the GOAT?” Jones enquired on social media. “Being back in the gym has got me thinking differently.
“That fight after stipe maybe 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 then continued to talk up the fight in a response to a fan.
“It would be absolutely massive. A guy with a chance to be three division champion and a goat versus the actual goat. Same age, different strengths. No one can argue that that would be the biggest fight in MMA history. There’s absolutely no fight that generates a payday like that. Marketing would be insane.”
Jones has a point, but while Pereira being a more decorated fighter than Aspinall due to being a former kickboxing champion who has since won UFC titles at 185lbs and 205lbs, it hasn’t escaped people’s attention that he could just see the Brazilian as an easier target due to him not being a natural heavyweight and also having a limited ground game that he could easily exploit.
Nevertheless, the fact that Jones is even entertaining the idea of another fight after Miocic rather than hinting at retirement as he’s usually done up until now is a positive sign.
