Alex Pereira Questions Jon Jones' Video After 2nd-Round KO Loss to Ciryl Gane

Q: After his controversial loss, can Alex Pereira still achieve his historic three-division dream at heavyweight?

Yes—Pereira can still pursue it, but the loss to Ciryl Gane made the path much harder and removed any immediate claim to history. The key fact is that Pereira did not win the interim heavyweight title at UFC Freedom 250, so he is no longer one victory away from becoming the UFC’s first three-division champion. Gane now holds the interim belt and is positioned for a unification bout with undisputed champion Tom Aspinall, which means Pereira likely needs at least one more major win—or a rematch with Gane—to get back into title contention. Pereira has made clear he is not abandoning the move up. He said he is staying at heavyweight and remains focused on winning the belt. He has also pushed for an immediate rematch, arguing the stoppage was affected by illegal shots to the back of his head, a view that gained some support from observers including Aspinall, who said the finishing strikes looked questionable. Still, the official result stands as a second-round knockout loss. That leaves Pereira’s chances dependent on matchmaking and performance. If the UFC grants him a quick rematch with Gane, his route could be short. If not, he may need to beat another top heavyweight to re-establish himself. Either way, the division is crowded and dangerous, and some analysts have questioned whether he looked fully comfortable at heavyweight. So the dream is still alive, but it is no longer imminent. Pereira remains a credible contender, not a next-in-line champion.

3 articles · Updated · MMA Fighting · Jun 18

Alex Pereira said he was "surprised" and confused by Jon Jones' post-fight video after Pereira's second-round knockout loss to Ciryl Gane in a UFC title bid at the White House on June 14.
Jones said nothing in the clip but wore a goat necklace, and later congratulated Gane — a post many read as a jab at Pereira despite the fighters' previously cordial public relationship.
Pereira said he had never spoken badly about Jones and had supported him in difficult moments, adding that he does not understand why Jones would take a shot when he was already dealing with a loss.
The defeat denied Pereira a chance to become the first UFC fighter to win belts in three divisions after moving up from light heavyweight, where he had regained his title with a first-round knockout of Magomed Ankalaev in 2025.