‘He wins’ — Alex Pereira makes prediction for Jon Jones vs Tom Aspinall after UFC 310
Alex Pereira has shared his thoughts on how Jon Jones vs Tom Aspinall would play out. Pereira is the current UFC light heavyweight champion and defended the 185-pound strap three times in 2024. Pereira defended his light heavyweight title three times in 2024Getty The Brazilian was awarded Fighter of the Year at the 2024 World MMA Awards, beating the likes of Alexandre Pantoja, Islam Makhachev and Dricus du Plessis to the trophy. He bloodied up Khalil Rountree Jr in his last octagon appearance at UFC 307, and also recorded victories over Jiri Prochazka and Jamahal Hill in title bouts this year. Pereira spoke with TNT Sports after UFC 310 this past weekend as fellow Brazilian Alexandre Pantoja defended his flyweight belt in the main event. “I was happy to see the initiative that he had to express to everybody that he wants to fight me,” Pereira said, referring to Jones’ recent comments. Jones has remained adamant that he would prefer a legacy-defining fight with Pereira ever since defending his heavyweight belt against Stipe Miocic at UFC 309. The 37-year-old has said he would rather not unify the heavyweight division against Aspinall, who he says has ‘proved nothing’ in the UFC. “I think Jon Jones has a lot of experience on his side,” Pereira added. “Some people say, ‘Aspinall this, Aspinall that’ but it comes down to experience. Jon Jones is a seasoned guy, he’s been there, so I think he wins.” When pressed on how he would get on against the current UFC heavyweight champion, Pereira certainly didn’t shy away with his response. “Well I’m a guy that likes to study my fights,” he said. Jones has admitted he would prefer Pereira over AspinallGetty Aspinall has been waiting in the wings for a UFC title shot for monthsGETTY “I’m very strategic like you say and I think that he’s training the same way that he did. “He usually walks around at 105 kilos so he doesn’t have to go up too much, maybe another five or eight kilos, but I’ll be ready for it.” Pereira is a two-time UFC champion, having also reached the middleweight division’s summit. He won UFC gold for the first time in November 2022 after defeating Israel Adesanya, but the latter would go on to win the rematch five months later. UFC 310 was another successful event for CEO White, who announced the card attracted a gate collection of over $5million, with 18,648 fans in attendance at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. The card also witnessed Shavkat Rakhmonov become the first man to defeat Ian Garry in the co-main bout, while Ciryl Gane earned a controversial split decision victory over Alexander Volkov. Pantoja won the main event at UFC 310Getty After submitting debutant Kai AsakuraGetty Bryce Mitchell knocked out Kron Gracie with brutal elbows on the main card too. In the prelims, Vicente Luque secured the fastest anaconda submission win in 52 seconds against Themba Gorimbo, and Dominick Reyes was also victorious against Anthony Smith.
Alex Pereira has shared his thoughts on how Jon Jones vs Tom Aspinall would play out.
Pereira is the current UFC light heavyweight champion and defended the 185-pound strap three times in 2024.
The Brazilian was awarded Fighter of the Year at the 2024 World MMA Awards, beating the likes of Alexandre Pantoja, Islam Makhachev and Dricus du Plessis to the trophy.
He bloodied up Khalil Rountree Jr in his last octagon appearance at UFC 307, and also recorded victories over Jiri Prochazka and Jamahal Hill in title bouts this year.
Pereira spoke with TNT Sports after UFC 310 this past weekend as fellow Brazilian Alexandre Pantoja defended his flyweight belt in the main event.
“I was happy to see the initiative that he had to express to everybody that he wants to fight me,” Pereira said, referring to Jones’ recent comments.
Jones has remained adamant that he would prefer a legacy-defining fight with Pereira ever since defending his heavyweight belt against Stipe Miocic at UFC 309.
The 37-year-old has said he would rather not unify the heavyweight division against Aspinall, who he says has ‘proved nothing’ in the UFC.
“I think Jon Jones has a lot of experience on his side,” Pereira added.
“Some people say, ‘Aspinall this, Aspinall that’ but it comes down to experience. Jon Jones is a seasoned guy, he’s been there, so I think he wins.”
When pressed on how he would get on against the current UFC heavyweight champion, Pereira certainly didn’t shy away with his response.
“Well I’m a guy that likes to study my fights,” he said.
“I’m very strategic like you say and I think that he’s training the same way that he did.
“He usually walks around at 105 kilos so he doesn’t have to go up too much, maybe another five or eight kilos, but I’ll be ready for it.”
Pereira is a two-time UFC champion, having also reached the middleweight division’s summit.
He won UFC gold for the first time in November 2022 after defeating Israel Adesanya, but the latter would go on to win the rematch five months later.
UFC 310 was another successful event for CEO White, who announced the card attracted a gate collection of over $5million, with 18,648 fans in attendance at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
The card also witnessed Shavkat Rakhmonov become the first man to defeat Ian Garry in the co-main bout, while Ciryl Gane earned a controversial split decision victory over Alexander Volkov.
Bryce Mitchell knocked out Kron Gracie with brutal elbows on the main card too.
In the prelims, Vicente Luque secured the fastest anaconda submission win in 52 seconds against Themba Gorimbo, and Dominick Reyes was also victorious against Anthony Smith.
