When you defeat back-to-back opponents within a span of 175 days to defend your light-heavyweight title, then it’s just plausible that the entire MMA community would talk about you and that’s what happened with Alex Pereira after he decimated Khalil Rountree Jr at the UFC 307 to defend his title for the third time this year breaking the previous record set by Ronda Rousey. This remarkable victory calls for an unusual comparison between two of the biggest stars in the light-heavyweight division: Jon Jones and Alex Pereira.

There has been a conversation going on around the depths of the MMA community that ‘Poatan’ should be ranked higher at the p4p table than any other fighter. As of today, Islam Makhachev is at the pinnacle of the table but it’s just soon enough that Pereira would be at the top to rule it. Amid the conversation, Chael ‘The American Gangster’ Sonnen has come forward to ascertain that the Brazilian might be the best light-heavyweight fighter to embrace the Octagon than Jon Jones.

While having a conversation on his YouTube handle, Chael Sonnen answered a question that’s been going on around the MMA stage for months. Does Alex Pereira rank higher than Jon Jones on the GOAT list? Well, Sonnen doesn’t know about that list but on the light-heavyweight list, ‘Poatan’ does rank higher, “The list has come out, and this might surprise you, but Pereira is in front of Jon Jones. It goes Islam, Pereira, and Jones. Jones has moved down one, and they moved a guy from Jon’s weight class up. Jon, the greatest light heavyweight ever, is now said to be competing at the same time as the greatest light heavyweight ever.”

He further added, “Can you imagine this claim? Are you understanding how big of a deal this is? I think you have to give a little bit more credit to Jon, and that’s because of his dynamic skills—his ability to ground and pound guys out and get TKO’s. Jon has won every possible way that you can win. But if I said, “Do you believe that Jon could get Prochazka out of there twice in less than a combined 12 minutes?” You would say no. And there’s nothing that just happens in politics—just so you know, it’s all well planned. Pereira is in front of Jon Jones in the pound-for-pound rankings.”

Jon Jo͏n͏es h͏a͏s͏ not compe͏te͏d͏͏ si͏nce hi͏s l͏ast fight agai͏͏nst C͏iryl Gane at UFC 285͏, ͏wh͏i͏l͏e Ale͏x Perei͏ra is curren͏t͏l͏y ͏the ͏͏͏mo͏st ͏a͏ctiv͏e͏ cham͏͏pion. Thi͏s s͏in͏g͏͏le ͏͏͏͏s͏ta͏t cou͏͏ld suggest that͏ P͏ereira͏͏ is͏ ͏cu͏r͏rently the ͏be͏tt͏er͏ f͏ig͏͏͏ht͏er. However, s͏ho͏͏uld we ͏re͏ly ͏sole͏l͏y on͏͏ ͏Chael Sonnen’s ͏words͏, ͏o͏r ͏w͏ait for o͏t͏he͏r ͏͏op͏inion͏s be͏͏͏fo͏re͏͏ drawing conc͏lusio͏͏ns͏?Well, according to Conor McGregor, Jon Jones might have a hard time against Alex Pereira.

Conor McGregor believes Alex Pereira is pound-for-pound number 1

Chael Sonnen is not the only insider who believes that Alex Pereira should be at the top of the P4P charts, Conor McGregor also believes that the Brazilian should stand above anyone due to his constant spectacular performances. While having a conversation with ‘The Schmo’, the former dual weight champion explained that if Pereira and Jones ever go for a fight then it would be a problem for ‘Bones’

“I think he poses a lot of problems for Jon [Jones] also. That’s a dangerous style for Jon. But it’s a decent one for him because he’s not so big, Jon is new to the heavyweight division. Jon, he had a nice one against Ciryl Gane, but he’s still untested at heavyweight. And I’m sure in the back of his mind, he has that thought that some of the guys are really big, and Alex is a nice one. I’d be very excited to see that bout take place, for sure,” said Conor McGregor.

With both the insiders claiming that this fight would put Jon Jones to a massive test, we might consider that as of now, Alex Pereira ousted the GOAT. Regardless, what’s your take on the hubbub? State your thoughts in the comments below.