Though fans once hoped for a showdown between Alex Pereira and Jon Jones in the heavyweight division, those aspirations are currently on hold. However, the discussion surrounding a potential matchup between the two remains alive, with fans constantly debating: Who is the “scarier” fighter — Jones or Pereira? Both have become legendary figures in the combat sports world and under Dana White‘s leadership, they’ve become synonymous with the UFC brand.
The Bossman, in particular, has consistently hailed Jon Jones as “the greatest of all time,” highlighting his formidable size and wrestling prowess, which often gives him the edge over strikers in the Octagon. However, UFC interim heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall offers a different perspective. The Brit recently joined YouTuber-turned-boxer Logan Paul and co-host Mike Majlak on Paul’s podcast, where the question of who is the scarier opponent—Alex Pereira or Jon Jones—was raised. Aspinall acknowledged Jones’ skill but ultimately sided with the Brazilian knockout power.
He stated, “Alex—one of the most dangerous guys in my opinion to ever fight in the UFC. He has that… I don’t even know what you call it, he just has the thing where he touches you and you just die. Do you know what I mean?” Aspinall also questioned how Alex Pereira’s punch resistance would hold up at heavyweight, considering he’s been knocked out in the middleweight division. He speculated, “How does his punch resistance look at heavyweight?”
However, the Englishman defended Alex Pereira’s knockout defeat to Israel Adesanya at UFC 287, attributing it to the extreme weight cuts the Brazilian had to endure. He elaborated, “When you strip so much fluid from your body, it affects your brain and punches resistance. Pereira struggled with that before.” Former 185-pound champion Sean Strickland recalled speaking to ‘Poatan’ before his last middleweight bout and remarked, “He looked like death.”
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Indeed, Pereira, a fighter who typically walks around at 230-235 lbs, faced significant challenges recovering from the grueling weight cuts, which ultimately led him to move up to the 205lbs division. There, he dominated for 16 months when Russian sensation Magomed Ankalaev finally ended his undefeated streak at UFC 313 earlier this month. However, with a rematch now on the horizon, Pereira is focused on reclaiming the gold he once held.
Alex Pereira is pumped for the upcoming rematch with Magomed Ankalaev
Since making his debut in the light heavyweight division, Alex Pereira has quickly established himself as a formidable force. He took on back-to-back challenges, elevating the promotion by facing top-tier opponents and saving the UFC from lackluster matchups. However, earlier this month, his impressive run was interrupted when he faced one of the most dangerous opponents in a stylistically intriguing matchup. Magomed Ankalaev, who had been with the promotion for nearly eight years, finally earned his title shot and went head-to-head with ‘Poatan’ at UFC 313.
In the fight, the Russian juggernaut controlled the action with leg strikes and takedown attempts, all of which Alex Pereira successfully defended. Despite the judges awarding Ankalaev the win (48-47, 48-47, 49-46), many observers felt the Brazilian had won the first, third, and fifth rounds. A rematch between the two is rumored to be scheduled for August, and Pereira has expressed his eagerness for the opportunity.
He shared, “I feel like an immediate rematch is right after everything that I have done for this division in the UFC. Nothing got to me yet [in regards to an official offer], but August is a good date. As soon as the contract gets in, I’m signing… It doesn’t have to be a knockout [in the rematch], but I feel that I have enough game to do whatever I want with this guy.”
What’s your take on Tom Aspinall’s claim? Do you think Alex Pereira is “scarier” than Jon Jones, or is there someone else you consider more intimidating in this matchup? Drop your thoughts below!
The post “You Just Die” – Tom Aspinall Gives Honest Verdict on Alex Pereira Being ‘Scarier’ Than Jon Jones appeared first on EssentiallySports.