Alex Pereira One Win Away from Cementing Himself as ‘GOAT of MMA’ According to Jon Jones’ Rival

UFC CEO Dana White revealed that Pereira and his team were at the UFC Performance Institute to request a move up to heavyweight on the day of UFC 320. While ‘Poatan’ has proved himself to break all barriers before, White believed that there was still competition in the light heavyweight division. However, Pereira was set to call out Jones after UFC 320 but avoided it due to the passing of Arthur Jones.

Speaking on the topic of Jones, the former heavyweight champion had a respectful back-and-forth with Pereira during his reign as heavyweight kingpin. Both sides had expressed their wish to fight, but the bout never materialized due to Jones’ sudden retirement. While Jones has backtracked on his retirement, current heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall reigns over the division and is an interesting fight for ‘Poatan’.

The heavyweight division has long been considered the most demanding in terms of raw power and durability, and fighters who succeed there often leave a lasting legacy. For a reigning light heavyweight champion like Alex Pereira, testing himself at that level could represent the ultimate pursuit of greatness and an opportunity to distinguish his career further.

Alex Pereira returns to the tire shop after UFC 320

Leading up to UFC 320, Alex Pereira faced a significant amount of trash-talk from Magomed Ankalaev. The Dagestani native vowed to knock out Pereira and took various shots at his personal life. The most prominent insult was when Ankalaev promised to send Pereira back to the tire shop he used to work at in his early life in Brazil.

The tire shop holds significance as a place where Pereira spent considerable time before focusing full-time on his fighting career. After his victory over Ankalaev at UFC 320, Pereira made a notable return to his former workplace and sent a message to Ankalaev. The tires in the shop had Ankalaev’s name written over them, while the hammer they used had Pereira’s as a symbol of ‘Poatan’s reply.

Ankalaev was right, we are here today giving presence as always, every time I come to Brazil, I come to the tire shop. This is it, right here. This is a place that has a very beautiful story. CHAMA

Alex Pereira via X

Alex Pereira’s decision to revisit the shop received attention due to the contrast between his status as UFC light heavyweight champion and his earlier life. The visit serves as a reminder of his journey from working in a local trade to becoming a two-division titleholder. It also reflects a broader narrative in sports where athletes maintain ties to their communities and past experiences even after reaching the highest levels.