Alex Pereira, the light-heavyweight champion of the UFC, had previously stated that he would like to train with heavyweight champion Jon Jones before Jones defends his championship against Stipe Miocic at UFC 309. It seems that Pereira no longer believes that to be the wisest course of action.
This Saturday in Las Vegas, Pereira will defend his light heavyweight title against Magomed Ankalaev in the main event of UFC 313. When asked if he would still desire to train with Jones, “Poatan” said yes.
“To be honest, I don’t think that makes as much sense anymore,” Pereira told Bloody Elbow via a Portuguese translator. “Back when I said that I would like to fight at heavyweight, people already put the dots together and basically mentioned Jon Jones. That’s something that is speculated, even if it’s just by the fans.
“So I wouldn’t want to go and train with him now, and then if we end up fighting, people will start saying a bunch of stuff about whatever in the fight. I think it wouldn’t make sense now, but if we were to fight one day and then go train, I think it would make total sense.”
After his crushing victory over Miocic in November of last year, Jones’ future remains uncertain. Fans, including UFC CEO Dana White, want to see Jones do the right thing and unite the championship with interim champion and top contender Tom Aspinall, despite “Bones” calling out Pereira for a champion vs. champion bout for several months.
Pereira wants to be in the front row if that battle breaks out.
“I won’t necessarily be studying the fight, but I’d watch it closely,” Pereira said. “Obviously, any heavyweight fight is already exciting, and then you put in Jon Jones and Tom Aspinall. I think that’s a very exciting fight, so I’ll be watching closely, but as a fan.”
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