Current light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira has been on a roll in 2024. The Brazilian juggernaut has bulldozered his way through the 205lbs division but his ambitions haven’t taken a backseat yet. The Brazilian has expressed his interest in jumping up yet another weight class and clinching a record third title at heavyweight.

Echoing the same sentiment yet again, ‘Poatan’ recently posted a cryptic message on Instagram alongside a picture featuring interim heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall in the background. The caption read, “This is one of my favorite moments before a fight.” Moreover, Aspinall also responded with a simple emoji, “🤝👀.” Is there something going on between the two? Well, UFC fighter turned-analyst Chael Sonnen has the answer for you.

Chael Sonnen feels Tom Aspinall vs. Alex Pereira might just be on the cards soon

Since claiming the interim heavyweight title at UFC 295, Tom Aspinall has been eager to secure a title unification showdown with Jon Jones. However, the heavyweight kingpin has refused to acknowledge the Brit as a viable match-up, citing that Aspinall hasn’t done anything that makes him deserving of a shot against the sport’s greatest. With UFC 309 potentially marking the final fight for both Jones and Stipe Miocic, Aspinall’s hopes for that matchup may be slipping away. This raises the question—what’s next for Aspinall?

UFC analyst Chael Sonnen recently weighed in on the situation on his YouTube channel. According to ‘The Bad Guy’, the promotion may be interested in pairing Aspinall with Pereira, a match-up that would bring substantial excitement to fans. Sonnen further shared his insights, though he stopped short of making an official prediction. “It’s going to leave a real conversation between Tom Aspinall and Alex Pereira,” Sonnen said. “Now, I can’t say more than this—I’m not guaranteeing you’re going to see Pereira vs. Aspinall. But I can share with you, behind the scenes, that this is a fight they’d like to see happen. I’ve got to leave it at that.”

Although there’s no official announcement yet, fans are already buzzing about the possibility of a Tom Aspinall vs. Alex Pereira clash in the heavyweight division. Both fighters possess incredible knockout power, making this potential bout a certified barn burner. However, if Pereira were to push the fight into the later rounds, questions arise about Aspinall’s endurance. Chael Sonnen believes this could be the first true test of Aspinall’s stamina, as he’s rarely had to go beyond the first round.

Chael Sonnen gives verdict on Tom Aspinall’s only weakness

At 31 years old, Tom Aspinall appears unstoppable in the UFC’s heavyweight division. In his last two fights, he’s delivered devastating first-round knockouts, leaving fans in awe of his power and speed. But while the performances have been impressive, Chael Sonnen has raised some concerns. Sonnen has questioned whether Aspinall’s untested stamina might become a vulnerability if he were to face a seasoned opponent like Alex Pereira.

Sonnen elaborated on his concerns, explaining, “I have one concern with Tom, and I am one of his biggest advocates, but I worry about his UFC career. He has only left the first round once. I don’t love that a guy hasn’t had to breathe for 15 minutes.” He went on to add, “Jon Jones has been tested; Pereira has been tested. If Aspinall is so damn good that nobody can test him, it’s unfair to criticize, but for me to wonder, I have to tell you it’s a concern for me.”

The question remains: Will we ever see a super-fight between the duo? And if yes, would Aspinall’s cardio hold up in a longer, grueling match, especially against a fighter like Pereira? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!