Alex Pereira, the former two-division UFC champion, has outlined his aggressive plans for the heavyweight division. If he successfully claims the interim heavyweight championship on June 14, he intends to compete at least two more times this year.
Pereira is set to face Ciryl Gane this weekend in the co-main event of UFC Freedom 250. A victory would make him the first fighter in UFC history to hold titles in three different weight classes. Pereira has a history of staying active, fighting three times annually from 2022 to 2024, and twice last year before vacating his light heavyweight title to move up.
Should Pereira win the interim heavyweight title, he is slated to face the undisputed champion, Tom Aspinall, in a title unification bout later this year. However, Aspinall is currently recovering from double eye surgery and has not yet been cleared for sparring, nor has he provided a return date. Pereira expressed his unwillingness to wait, noting that Aspinall is not actively training at the moment.
Pereira’s Future Plans and Warning to Heavyweights
In a recent interview with Ariel Helwani, the 38-year-old Brazilian emphasized his desire not to waste time. He plans to return to the octagon as soon as possible after his June 14 fight, provided he emerges from the bout healthy. Pereira also sent a clear message to Jon Jones, Tom Aspinall, and the rest of the heavyweight roster.
“I want to fight as soon as possible after this fight. Jon Jones, I don’t know if he’s training. Aspinall, maybe he’s not going to be ready. Those guys should be training right now because, as soon as this fight is finished, I want to fight as soon as possible… I don’t think any of them will be ready. Right now, we know there’s no longer the whole process of building a fight because there are no more PPVs involved.”
“To all the heavyweights, I’m being nice. I’m just letting you guys know: be prepared. Start training because, as soon as this fight is finished, if I win and I’m healthy, I’m going to push the UFC to give me another fight right away.”
Watch Alex Pereira’s statement here:
Alex Pereira says he’d rather have a very quick turnaround at heavyweight rather than wait for a particular matchup: “I want to fight as soon as possible after this fight. Jon Jones, I don’t know if he’s training. Aspinall, maybe he’s not going to be ready. Those guys should be…” [Link to original tweet/video if available]
English Translation:
Alex Pereira Sends a Bold Message to Jon Jones and Tom Aspinall
Alex Pereira, the former two-division UFC titleholder, has laid out his ambitious plans for the heavyweight division. If he secures the interim heavyweight championship on June 14, “Poatan” intends to compete at least two more times this year, with his future in the division already mapped out.
Pereira is scheduled to face Ciryl Gane this weekend in the co-main event of UFC Freedom 250. A victory over Gane would make him the first UFC fighter to hold belts in three weight classes. The Brazilian fighter has a history of staying active, having fought three times each year from 2022 to 2024. Last year, he competed twice before vacating his light heavyweight title to move up.
If Alex Pereira wins the interim 265-pound title, he is expected to face the undisputed heavyweight champion, Tom Aspinall, later this year in a title unification bout. However, Aspinall is currently not cleared to spar following double eye surgery and has not informed UFC management of his planned return. Consequently, “Poatan” is unwilling to wait, especially since Aspinall is not currently training.
Alex Pereira Discusses UFC Future, Sends a Reminder to Every Heavyweight on the Roster, Including Tom Aspinall and Jon Jones
In an interview with Ariel Helwani, the 38-year-old stated that he has no time to waste and plans to enter the octagon as soon as possible if he wins on June 14 and remains uninjured. He also issued a subtle warning to Jon Jones, Tom Aspinall, and all other heavyweights.
“I want to fight as soon as possible after this fight. Jon Jones, I don’t know if he’s training. Aspinall, maybe he’s not going to be ready. Those guys should be training right now because, as soon as this fight is finished, I want to fight as soon as possible… I don’t think any of them will be ready. Right now, we know there’s no longer the whole process of building a fight because there are no more PPVs involved.”
“To all the heavyweights, I’m being nice. I’m just letting you guys know: be prepared. Start training because, as soon as this fight is finished, if I win and I’m healthy, I’m going to push the UFC to give me another fight right away.”
Check out Alex Pereira’s comments below:
Alex Pereira says he’d rather have a very quick turnaround at heavyweight rather than wait for a particular matchup: “I want to fight as soon as possible after this fight. Jon Jones, I don’t know if he’s training. Aspinall, maybe he’s not going to be ready. Those guys should be…” [Link to original tweet/video if available]
