Alex Pereira hails Jon Jones; draws clear line for ‘GOAT’ criteria: “What matters is…”

UFC light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira cites one key reason for choosing Jon Jones as the greatest of all time in UFC.

Alex Pereira hails Jon Jones; draws clear line for ‘GOAT’ criteria: “What matters is…”

Alex Pereira picks Jon Jones as the GOAT in UFC (Image via UFC/Instagram)

The discussion about the Greatest of All Time (GOAT) fighter has always been an engaging topic within the UFC community. Fighters such as Khabib Nurmagomedov, Jon Jones, Georges St-Pierre, and Demetrious Johnson are often mentioned as top contenders for this esteemed title. Recently, UFC light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira shared his thoughts on the subject.

The Brazilian fighter is currently scheduled to face Magomed Ankalaev at UFC 313. Recently, Pereira participated in an interview with Mark Bouris, where he discussed several intriguing topics. During the conversation, he was also asked to share his thoughts on who he believes is the greatest of all time (GOAT) in the UFC. In response, while picking Jon ‘Bones’ Jones, Pereira also stated his reasons for it.

Jon Jones… What matters is the biggest number of title defenses in the UFC, that matter, that makes him the GOAT.

Alex Pereira’s words translated by Plinio Cruz via Mark Bouris on YouTube
YouTube video

Throughout his UFC career, Jones, also known as “Bones,” has defeated nearly every opponent he has faced. His only setback in the promotion came from a disqualification against Matt Hamill. Aside from that, Jones has consistently risen through the ranks and is currently the champion of the heavyweight division. Pereira emphasized a notable achievement from Bones’ career statistics in the UFC.

The UFC heavyweight champion holds the record for the most title wins in the promotion, with a total of 16 throughout his career. Jones’ victories and title defenses have set him apart from several other outstanding UFC fighters, according to many notable personalities. Additionally, Pereira shares a strong bond with the UFC heavyweight champion.

Jon Jones hints about keeping his interest in a fight against Alex Pereira open

In the current UFC landscape, Alex Pereira and Jon Jones are two of the standout fighters in the promotion. Their dominant performances in their respective divisions have led both fighters to express a desire to face each other in the octagon. This announcement generated significant excitement within the UFC community, as many fans eagerly anticipated the match-up.

Jon Jones and Alex Pereira together
Jon Jones and Alex Pereira together (Image via X)

The excitement surrounding potential matchups faded after UFC CEO Dana White announced that Tom Aspinall would be the next opponent for the UFC heavyweight champion. Interestingly, Jones recently shared a post on his Instagram story about Pereira, who stated that he is still interested in fighting the UFC heavyweight champion.

However, as it stands, there is still a significant amount of time before this potential matchup could occur. Pereira’s upcoming fight is already scheduled, while Jones recently fought at UFC 309. As for Dana White, he does not seem inclined to pursue a matchup between ‘Bones’ and ‘Poatan’ at this time. That being said, it will be interesting to see if he changes his mind about it in the future.