Dana White isn’t interested in seeing UFC heavyweight champion Jon Jones take on light heavyweight champ Alex Pereira.
The UFC CEO said Thursday on “The Jim Rome Show” that Jones must fight interim heavyweight champ Tom Aspinall next if he decides against retirement after his fight with Stipe Miocic this weekend at UFC 309.
“He’s not fighting Pereira,” White said. “Not happening.”
White added: “(Pereira) is a middleweight who moved up to light heavyweight. He’s also a kickboxer who has done very, very well in MMA. His wrestling isn’t even near the level of Jon Jones, and Jon Jones is way bigger than him. If Jon Jones wants to fight again after Saturday night, he will fight Tom Aspinall.”
Earlier this week, Jones said he was only interested in fighting Pereira after he defends his belt against Miocic, a former two-time champion, in the main event of the UFC’s annual trip to Madison Square Garden. Jones added that he would happily walk away from the sport if the promotion wasn’t interested in the Pereira matchup.
Jones said he doesn’t want to unify the heavyweight titles with Aspinall because a superfight against Pereira does more for his legacy – and also because he doesn’t think the Englishman has shown him respect.
However, White believes Jones will eventually turn a corner and agree to fight Aspinall.
“Jon, when he was 23 years old and became the youngest champion ever, somebody gave him the opportunity for greatness,” White said. “And I think Jon will eventually come back and face Tom Aspinall.”
White added: “If he wins, he’ll disappear for a while and then that competitive spirit will start bubbling up again. Then money will talk. If he doesn’t decide to retire, he absolutely, positively fights Aspinall.”
When asked if Jones is outright ducking Aspinall, White didn’t agree.
“For anybody to say he’s ducking anybody, Jon Jones is 37, 38 years old. He’s fought everybody,” White said. “He’s fought all the best in the world in their prime. Been doing it since he was 23 years old. He doesn’t duck anybody. And he’s undefeated, he’s never lost a fight, which is unbelievable.”
