Alex Pereira (left)(image via UFC / YouTube)

By FCF Staff

It remains to be seen if Jon Jones and Alex Pereira ever end up fighting. But, if they do, Pereira’s coach, Plinio Cruz, believes it will be the biggest bout in the history of mixed-martial-arts.

After Pereira defended the UFC’s light-heavyweight title earlier this year, the decorated fighter reported he was interested in challenging for the heavyweight crown. Following Pereira’s recent win over Jiri Prochazka, he repeated that wish.

More recently, Cruz was a guest on The MMA Hour. While discussing the possibility of a Pereira – Jones fight, Cruz noted he’s certain it would be massive (quotes via MMA Fighting.com).

“I think it’d be a mega-fight. I think [it’d be] the biggest fight this sport has ever seen,” Cruz said. “We all respect Jon Jones a lot. And I think it’s going to be just a great fight. I’m not going to say [who] wins, they lose, [who] wins, they lose. Fight is a fight, but I think it’s going to be the best fight between two great champions.

The heavyweight champ Jones, however, is expected to face former champ, Stipe Miocic later this year. Further, interim champ Tom Aspinall is scheduled to fight Curtis Blaydes at UFC 304, July 27th. As a result, several pieces would likely need to fall into place, before a Pereira – Jones fight could be tabled.

“I like the idea. I think that’s a [move] that’s going to happen eventually,” Cruz said. “I don’t think right now it’s the move, because let’s just be honest, the heavyweight division is clogged, it’s stopped right now. First [Jon] Jones has to fight, first [Tom] Aspinall has to fight, so for us to be chasing something that’s not even moving yet, I don’t think is the point.”

The 36-year-old Pereira (11-2) recorded his second, stoppage win over Prochazka at the recent, UFC 303 card. The Brazilian star has gone 4-0 now since he moved to light-heavyweight, after losing the middleweight title to Israel Adesanya in 2023.