UFC heavyweight champion Jon Jones could be prepared to vacate his title for a conflict with Alex Pereira if the promotion creates a brand new belt for the struggle.
Jon Jones will face former UFC heavyweight titleholder Stipe Miocic on Saturday at UFC 309. He’ll make his long-awaited first heavyweight title protection nearly two full years since profitable the then-vacant belt at UFC 285.
If Jones will get previous Miocic at UFC 309, he has an array of intriguing choices on the desk. Certainly one of which is retirement, which he has teased with a win over Miocic this weekend in New York Metropolis.
However, if Jones opts to stay round for a minimum of yet another struggle, high-profile matchups with Alex Pereira and Tom Aspinall are in the mix. Pereira has teased an eventual transfer as much as heavyweight, whereas Aspinall holds the interim heavyweight belt he defended at UFC 304.
A Jones vs. Pereira superfight would put two of the best UFC mild heavyweights towards each other. Whereas Jones is leaning in the direction of a struggle with Pereira over Aspinall, he doesn’t consider his heavyweight belt must be on the road to make the matchup come to fruition.
Jon Jones vs. Alex Pereira for the BAMF title?
In a latest interview with TSN‘s Aaron Bronsteter, Jones pitched a brand-new BAMF title on the road for a conflict with Pereira.
“It might be cool to struggle for the heavyweight championship, however I’d additionally willingly hand over the heavyweight championship,” Jones mentioned. “I walked away from the sunshine heavyweight championship and I’d like to stroll away from this one as effectively, on prime.
“I really like the place that I’m in proper now. Preventing [Alex] Pereira for the ‘BAMF’ belt, that may be cool. We each have two belts in two weight lessons and the evening we’d struggle, we’d be combating for our third belt, which might be the ‘BAMF’. How cool would that be?”
Battle followers weren’t keen on Jones’ thought for a brand new BAMF belt.
“I didn’t suppose capturing a belt up a weight class might presumably harm somebody’s legacy, however Jones could accomplish it with this 2-year paper title reign. Superb work,” one fan tweeted.
“Asking for a struggle for the BMF belt after leaving the division to keep away from Tom Aspinall, how ironic,” one other mentioned.
“If this isn’t ducking then ducking doesn’t exist,” one other commented.
The UFC’s BMF title was first introduced into existence at UFC 244, starting with Jorge Masvidal vs. Nate Diaz. Max Holloway at the moment holds the belt, which is the primary and solely of its type in UFC historical past.
- READ MORE: Jon Jones’ rival highlights Stipe Miocic’s biggest weakness that could lead to KO at UFC 309
Jon Jones clarifies that the heavyweight title wouldn’t essentially need to be at stake if he had been to struggle Alex Pereira and he has one other belt in thoughts.
Full interview with the 🐐 coming quickly… pic.twitter.com/R43YlfB9Ze
— Aaron Bronsteter (@aaronbronsteter) November 11, 2024
Jon Jones’s unsure future overshadows UFC 309 return
Battle followers, analysts, and pundits are clamoring for Aspinall to face the Jones vs. Miocic winner after UFC 309. Whereas UFC CEO Dana White is assured he can persuade the winner to face Aspinall subsequent, Jones appears to have misplaced all curiosity in dealing with the UK star.
Jones captured the then-vacant UFC heavyweight title by submitting Ciryl Gane at UFC 285. Since then, Pereira has taken over the sunshine heavyweight division, changing into one of many sport’s largest pay-per-view attracts.
Pereira most lately defended the UFC mild heavyweight title by finishing Khalil Rountree Jr. at UFC 307. Whereas he doesn’t envision an extended heavyweight reign, he’s on the file saying he wants at least one heavyweight fight earlier than retiring.
Jones vacated the UFC mild heavyweight belt in 2020, earlier than a three-year transformation to heavyweight. His final title protection got here towards Dominick Reyes at UFC 247.
Jones and Pereira are two of the most important names in fight sports activities. A potential conflict would intrigue followers world wide, and in accordance with Jones, a brand new title might be unveiled for the superfight.
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