Jones sets sights on Pereira after Miocic: 'Biggest fight in MMA history'

UFC heavyweight champion Jon Jones likes the sound of a matchup with light heavyweight champ Alex Pereira.

Jones is expected to defend his title against Stipe Miocic later in 2024, but he said Friday on X that there would be no bigger fight available than Pereira - for himself and the UFC - once he gets past Miocic.

Pereira captured the light heavyweight title - which Jones held for the better part of the 2010s - last November. But the Brazilian has also shown interest in moving up to heavyweight in recent months to attempt to become the first three-division champion in UFC history. Pereira has already put together a Hall of Fame career in record speed, claiming the middleweight title against Israel Adesanya in 2022 and then knocking out Jiri Prochazka to become the new 205-pound champ at UFC 295.

The other option for Jones after taking on Miocic - assuming he doesn't retire - is a title-unification bout against interim heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall.

But Jones is convinced that a fight with Pereira is more sellable than a fight with Aspinall.

Jones was scheduled to face Miocic at UFC 295 last November but withdrew from the bout after suffering a torn pectoral muscle. UFC CEO Dana White committed to rescheduling Jones-Miocic right away, but no date is set. Jones recently returned to the gym for the first time since undergoing surgery to repair the injury.

Aspinall knocked out Sergei Pavlovich at UFC 295 to capture the interim title in Jones' absence. And although the Brit initially expressed interest in facing either Jones or Miocic next, it appears likely he'll defend his belt at UFC 304 on July 27 in Manchester, England, against either Ciryl Gane or Curtis Blaydes.

Pereira headlined the blockbuster UFC 300 card last month in Las Vegas, knocking out Jamahal Hill in the opening round of his first light heavyweight title defense.