As if making the Jones-Aspinall fight isn’t hard enough, UFC boss Dana White has been facing heat from fans after he dashed the hopes of the fight community who were eager to see what Jon Jones once referred to as a “fun fight” against light heavyweight kingpin Alex Pereira. Earlier this summer, ‘Poatan’ revealed his desire to move up to the heavyweight division, aiming to become the first-ever UFC three-division champion. ‘Bones’ also welcomed the idea, advocating for a fight against the light heavyweight champion over Tom Aspinall, claiming, “I want a dangerous, established champion.”

However, Dana White quickly dismissed the potential matchup, instead pushing for a much-anticipated heavyweight clash between Jon Jones and Tom Aspinall in a title unification bout. White explained, “But you can’t just do a fun fight and not fight the interim heavyweight champion, the guy who is next,” following the standard protocols of any major combat sports organization. Since then, Dana White has faced considerable backlash for his remarks.

Recently, UFC commentator and close friend of Dana White, Joe Rogan, stepped in to defend White’s stance on the potential “fun fight” between Jon Jones and Alex Pereira. In episode #2239 of his Joe Rogan Experience podcast, featuring YouTube fitness educator Derek Munro as a guest, Rogan highlighted Pereira’s weaknesses in grappling and wrestling. He explained, “The problem is the ground. Jon’s so much better on the ground, like, worlds better. And it takes so long to get really good on the ground. We’ve seen Pereira get in trouble with guys on the ground that are nowhere near Jon’s level.”

Joe Rogan further emphasized Jon Jones’ dangerous capabilities, citing his dominance over Olympic wrestling great Daniel Cormier in their 2016 and 2017 Octagon matches (though Jones’ 2017 win was overturned because of testing positive for a turinabol metabolite). Rogan’s argument holds weight, especially when considering Alex Pereira’s background as a former kickboxing champion. While ‘Poatan’ has won 9 out of 10 UFC fights, most of these victories have come against strikers, with many ending in knockout.

The situation gained more attention when Alex Pereira distanced himself from a potential title shot against Magomed Ankalaev, a top-ranked Dagestani fighter known for his well-rounded skills, particularly his superior ground game. Now, it appears that the rumored fight between Jon Jones and Pereira is becoming increasingly unlikely, especially with the heavyweight title unification bout between ‘Bones’ and the top contender looming. Given the situation, it would be intriguing to hear ‘Poatan’s’ genuine opinion on who would come out on top in a fight: Jon Jones or Tom Aspinall?

Alex Pereira picks favorite in Jon Jones vs. Tom Aspinall showdown

Alex Pereira has finally accepted his fate, acknowledging what Dana White and the UFC have planned for him next, which could potentially be a title defense against Magomed Ankalaev in his fourth outing as the light heavyweight champion. On the other hand, reports suggest that Jon Jones is on the verge of landing his “f–k you money” dream fight against Tom Aspinall. However, many believe that the younger Aspinall might dethrone ‘Bones’ undefeated streak in the promotion, which he has built over decades (with the exception of one loss by DQ).

Jon Jones initially seemed reluctant to face Aspinall, even threatening to leave the belt and the UFC if the fight didn’t happen. Eventually, the New York native caved in front of his boss, Dana White. Meanwhile, Alex Pereira has his own predictions about the Jon Jones vs. Aspinall showdown. In his latest interview with TNT Sports, ‘Poatan’ said, “I think Jon Jones has a lot of experience on his side. Some people say, ‘Aspinall this, Aspinall that,’ but it comes down to experience. Jon Jones is a seasoned guy. He’s been there, so I think he wins.”

What’s your take on Joe Rogan’s remarks? Do you think Jon Jones‘ ground game could be enough of a problem for Alex Pereira, or is it Dana White’s frustration with the delayed title unification fight that is causing tension? Drop your opinion below.