“He (McGregor) doesn’t need to fight with a broken finger because that limits you a lot. The conditions are different. He already made his life, worked to conquer what he conquered. I’m only halfway there… For me, it was better to fight, even with a broken finger,” said Alex Pereira when a reporter compared him to Conor McGregor ahead of UFC 303. Originally, UFC 303 was set to feature the Irishman’s long-awaited return against Michael Chandler. However, an injury forced McGregor to withdraw, and the fight ultimately fell apart.
Meanwhile, the Brazilian stepped in on short notice—despite suffering the same injury—to defend his light heavyweight title against Jiří Procházka. This came just 77 days after his first title defense against Jamahal Hill. By doing so, Alex Pereira salvaged what could have been a lackluster event for Dana White & Co.
At 36, ‘Poatan’ didn’t slow down. Just months later, he defended his belt again, this time against Khalil Rountree Jr., further cementing his reputation as one of the most active champions in the UFC. Since October 2021, he has competed in 10 fights, tying him for the second-most fights in that span (after Kevin Holland at 12).
Now, in 2025, he is gearing up for his fourth title defense at UFC 313 on March 8 at T-Mobile Arena. His opponent? Dagestani powerhouse Magomed Ankalaev, a formidable challenger with a background in combat sambo and Greco-Roman wrestling. Many believe Ankalaev presents Alex Pereira’s toughest test yet. Should Pereira successfully defend his title, he will etch his name deeper into MMA’s history.
As ESPN MMA noted on Instagram, “If Alex Pereira beats Magomed Ankalaev, he would have four title defenses in less than 12 months“—a rare feat only achieved by reigning UFC heavyweight champion Jon Jones more than a decade ago.
Jones himself acknowledged this milestone by sharing the post on his Instagram story. Although Jon Jones and Alex Pereira share mutual respect, fans have ignited debates, drawing comparisons between the two legends. Let’s dive deeper into this discussion.
Fans favor Alex Pereira over Jon Jones’ legacy
With a career overshadowed by controversies, legal troubles, anti-doping violations, and personal conflicts, Jon Jones is one of the most polarizing figures in MMA. In contrast, Alex Pereira has emerged as a fan favorite—a respected and humble fighter who has won over both fans and veterans. His clean-cut image and fearless fighting style have genuinely earned him the goodwill of fans and his fight contemporaries alike. Highlighting the stark contrast between the two, one fan commented, “No roids or eye pokes, kids.”
Despite coming from a kickboxing background, Alex Pereira has quickly become a dominant force in MMA, known for putting opponents to sleep with ease. Meanwhile, Jon Jones’ career has been riddled with long periods of inactivity due to legal troubles and controversies. The UFC stripped him of his title twice—first in 2015 after a hit-and-run incident, and again in 2017 when he tested positive for the banned substance Turinabol. Injuries and other setbacks have further kept ‘Bones’ on the sidelines.
In stark contrast, the Brazilian has remained one of the most active champions in the UFC. A fan echoed this sentiment, stating, “Most active champ in history,” while another reminisced, “Remember when Jon Jones was active?! Man, those were the days.” Alex Pereira’s striking-heavy style has also played a major role in his growing popularity. Fans tend to favor action-packed strikers over wrestling-heavy fighters, as seen in the struggles of fighters like Belal Muhammad to gain the favor of fans. One fan even commented, “Pereira is way more entertaining than Jon Jones.”
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – SEPTEMBER 14: (L-R) Jon Jones and Alex Pereira attend the UFC 306 at Riyadh Season Noche UFC event at Sphere on September 14, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC)
However, despite being known for his wrestling dominance, Jon Jones has showcased immense knockout power, securing five KO/TKO victories in his UFC career. His latest finish came against Stipe Miočić at UFC 309, where he ended the fight with a devastating spinning back kick. Amid growing fan interest, discussions about a potential heavyweight clash between the Albuquerque native and Alex Pereira have intensified. A champion vs. champion bout, featuring two of the sport’s biggest stars, would undoubtedly be a blockbuster event. Some have even dubbed it a “red panty night” due to the massive pay-per-view appeal.
Initially, Dana White dismissed the idea, but he later left the door open—on one condition: Jon Jones must first defeat interim heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall in a title unification bout. White clarified, “If he [Jones] stays and beats Tom Aspinall [in the title unification fight], then yes, I would do the Alex Pereira fight.”
Fans continue to rally behind the dream matchup. One fan hyped it up, commenting, “Setting up the Big Match,” while another speculated about Alex Pereira’s potential move to heavyweight, stating, “If he went to heavyweight and became champ, he is definitely top 3 GOAT.”
What are your thoughts on a potential matchup between Alex Pereira and Jon Jones? Do you believe Pereira will come out on top of his upcoming fight against Magomed Ankalaev at UFC 313? Can ‘Poatan’ successfully defend his title for a fourth time against Ankalaev? Share your opinion below!
The post Jon Jones Put on Alert as Alex Pereira Threatens UFC Legacy at UFC 313 appeared first on EssentiallySports.
