“This is one of my favorite moments before a fight.” Alex Pereira captioned an Instagram post last October, alongside a picture featuring UFC interim heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall in the background. The two juggernauts had teased the possibility of a future clash, with the Englishman expressing his interest by responding with a handshake emoji on his Instagram story, hinting that their paths could soon cross inside the Octagon. However, the discussion went quiet until yesterday, when UFC head honcho Dana White spoke out about the potential showdown.

White indicated that the winner of the reported title unification bout between Jon Jones vs. Tom Aspinall could become the next opponent for the reigning 205lbs kingpin. During an appearance on The Jim Rome Show, Dana White shared, “The plan is to fight Jon this summer. Obviously…My goal this year is to make that fight with Aspinall.” White also gave the go-ahead for the Brazilian’s long-anticipated move to 265lbs and said, “I think that the fight that everybody wants to see right now is Jones and Aspinall and then there’s no doubt that Pereira could fight the winner.” In for a blockbuster for sure!

Just days before his highly anticipated title defense against Magomed Ankalaev at UFC 313, ‘Poatan’ sat down with TNT British broadcaster Caroline Pearce. Being British herself, Pearce couldn’t resist asking about a potential fight between Pereira and her countryman: “I want to ask you as well, being the British broadcaster, about Tom Aspinall. Do you foresee yourself fighting Tom at some point? How does the fight between yourself and Tom Aspinall look?” Pearce inquired. Pereira replied, “I think so.” He added, “You know, even people have been saying it, and there’s been a lot of talk about it. He even said that it’s something that would interest him, so it’s possible.”

Last summer, Alex Pereira hinted at a potential move to the heavyweight division, expressing his willingness to face the reigning champion by stating, “Whoever it is, it doesn’t matter to me.” Currently, Jon Jones holds the heavyweight title, fueling excitement among fans who have labeled a possible showdown between the two a “red p—y night.” However, the matchup initially seemed unlikely, as Dana White quickly shut down the idea, citing the Albuquerque resident’s significant size advantage over the Brazilian, saying, “No f—-ng way.”

Despite his initial reluctance, White later clarified that the fight could become a reality under one condition: “If he [stays] and beats Tom Aspinall [in the title unification fight], then yes,” Alex Pereira will be his next opponent. However, if the Englishman secures the victory, it will be him facing Pereira instead. This leaves one pressing question—who does Alex Pereira truly want to fight: Jon Jones or Tom Aspinall?

Who does Alex Pereira really want to fight—Jon Jones or Tom Aspinall?

Alex Pereira is approaching 40, and with limited time left in his MMA career, retirement may not be far off. For over a decade, he has been a devoted student of combat sports, first making his mark in kickboxing before rising to dominance in the UFC as the light heavyweight champion. Currently 37, the Brazilian knows he can’t afford to take the long road to the top. “I’m 37, so I have to go directly to the top, directly to the belt,” he declared last year—an ambition widely supported by fans and analysts, who labeled it a “super fight.”

Meanwhile, the UFC and Dana White appear to be steering toward a Jon Jones vs. Tom Aspinall showdown, a fight many believe could mark the final chapter of ‘Bones’ storied career. However, Pereira sees himself as the bigger challenge for Jones. Speaking on The Ariel Helwani Show, he reaffirmed his desire to step into the heavyweight division for one reason—to take on the best.

“I’m the champ. I want to fight the champ. Let’s make the fight with Jon Jones. That’s the fight I want for heavyweight. Before Jon Jones’ last fight, we actually talked about possibly fighting—more of a casual conversation than serious negotiations. He’s not a friend or someone I talk to regularly, but he is someone I respect. I know he respects me, and there’s mutual respect.”

What’s your take on Alex Pereira’s next potential fight? Would you prefer to see him take on Jon Jones or the British powerhouse, Tom Aspinall? Drop your thoughts below!