Hold onto your seats, fight fans, because the MMA world is buzzing with a potential showdown that could shake the very foundations of the sport: Jon Jones vs. Alex Pereira at 205 pounds. But here’s where it gets controversial—while ‘Poatan’ Pereira is willing to leap two weight classes to challenge the legendary ‘Bones’ Jones, UFC CEO Dana White isn’t exactly sold on the idea. And this is the part most people miss: Jones is technically retired from combat sports, adding another layer of complexity to this already explosive scenario.
Let’s break it down. Alex Pereira, who made his Octagon debut at UFC 268 in late 2021, has been making waves with his willingness to move up to heavyweight to face Jones. However, Dana White’s skepticism, coupled with Jones’ retirement status, has thrown a wrench into the works. Enter Chael Sonnen, who dropped a bombshell on his ESPN show with Daniel Cormier. Sonnen suggested that if Jones were to come out of retirement, he could sweeten the deal by putting a title on the line, saying, ‘I’ll see you at 205 pounds’. If that happens, Sonnen claims, the entire conversation changes—and he might just be right.
But is this matchup even fair? Retired UFC welterweight Matt Brown doesn’t think so. He bluntly called it a ‘nightmare matchup for Alex Pereira’, pointing out that Jones is bigger, a far superior wrestler, and has a skill set that Pereira simply can’t match at this stage. Brown even joked that Jones could ‘show up after a year of doing cocaine and still dominate’—a bold statement that’s sure to spark debate. Is this fight a sport or entertainment? Brown argues that if the goal is to create the biggest, most jaw-dropping event possible, Pereira vs. Jones is a no-brainer. But is Dana White willing to take that gamble?
Here’s the kicker: White is expected to start building the UFC White House lineup in February, leaving fans and analysts alike on the edge of their seats. Will this fight materialize, or will it remain a tantalizing ‘what if’? And more importantly, is this the fight the MMA world needs, or is it a recipe for disaster? Let us know your thoughts in the comments—this is one debate you won’t want to miss.
