Pereira Eyes 3rd UFC Title as White Says 1 More Win Tops Jon Jones
Updated
Updated · ESPN · Jun 5
Pereira Eyes 3rd UFC Title as White Says 1 More Win Tops Jon Jones
3 articles · Updated · ESPN · Jun 5
Summary
June 14 could put Alex Pereira one victory from UFC history when he meets Ciryl Gane for the interim heavyweight belt at UFC Freedom 250 at the White House.
A win would make the Brazilian the promotion's first three-division champion after title runs at middleweight and light heavyweight, prompting Dana White to say Pereira would surpass Jon Jones as the GOAT.
Pereira, 13-3, reached that position quickly after moving from Glory Kickboxing to MMA in 2021 and beating Israel Adesanya for the middleweight title in 2022.
The interim champion would next be in line for undisputed heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall, though Aspinall is recovering from multiple eye injuries and his camp wants to renegotiate his UFC contract.
Jones, 28-1 with a UFC-record 16 title-fight wins, retired in 2025 but said he would return for a Pereira matchup, leaving open a direct showdown over White's claim.