Jon Jones has been told by one of his biggest UFC rivals that he is the greatest MMA fighter of all time.
The surprising comments came from Alex Pereira, the UFC light-heavyweight champion whom Jones once called out for a super-fight. Many believe that the pair should be fighting in future, although it appears that Jones is going to retire after his next fight with Stipe Miocic at UFC 309.
Pereira at one time appeared keen on a fight with his fellow two-weight champion, but now seems more keen on learning from him on the mats. And he has offered to help Jones as he finishes off his training camp for the New York fight date after his own title defence on Saturday night at UFC 307.
Alex Pereira brands Jon Jones the greatest MMA fighter in history
UFC light-heavyweight champion Alex Pereira is currently on one of the most impressive runs in all of MMA. He has fought just 13 times as a professional, and even lost two of those, but has already won world titles in two UFC weight classes and defended his 205lb strap twice.
And while he is carving out his own legacy, he understands the legends that have paved the way for him. Speaking to Helen Yee, he noted that controversial heavyweight champion Jon Jones is still the sport’s greatest ever.
UFC president Dana White has become a meme in the MMA community for his regular insistence that Jones is the best fighter currently and of all time, and Pereira agrees, saying: “Right now being active, Jon Jones [is the MMA GOAT]. Like Dana White says, he’s the man.”
Jon Jones once called for Alex Pereira super-fight
At one stage, it appeared that Jones and Pereira may have been on a collision course. The heavyweight champion even took to social media to make the case for a massive super-fight between the pair in May of this year.
The fight would allow the veteran to slay one of the new generation’s top talents on his way out of the sport after 16 years at the top. And on the other hand, Pereira would get a shot at an unprecedented third world title as well as the chance to put down arguably the greatest fighter in history.
“Being back in the gym has got me thinking differently,” Jones wrote to kick off a series of tweets. “That fight after Stipe maybe the next biggest move I could possibly make. This killer has already defeated so many champions, and is already considered a legend to millions around the world.
“The most massive fight the UFC could make. Give Alex a chance to avenge all those great Brazilian champions I’ve defeated. It would be absolutely massive. A guy with a chance to be three division champion and a goat versus the actual goat. Same age, different strengths.
“No one can argue that that would be the biggest fight in MMA history. There’s absolutely no fight that generates a payday like that. Marketing would be insane.”
Alex Pereira would rather train with Jon Jones than fight him as he eyes retirement
However, with Jones now claiming that his next fight will be his last, Pereira is more interested in learning from him than fighting him. The pair came head-to-head at UFC 306 in Las Vegas earlier this month, and appeared friendly as they posed for photos and had a positive chat.
Pereira must first focus on Saturday night’s showdown with Khalil Rountree Jr before concerning himself with Jones in any way. But he is interested in helping the heavyweight champion towards the end of his camp for his November 16 bout with Miocic.
“I think there’s some good time, his fight is only in November,” Pereira told Full Send. “There’s always something coming off a fight, a small injury, so we can get some rest and then train together. A lot of people talk about this super-fight but I think I have to make the most of this guy’s experience.
“He has a ton of experience, but people are talking about him maybe doing only one or two fights more, and I’m not even at heavyweight yet. I don’t know if that’s possible, but I want to at least be training with him.”
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