Pereira on track for Jones fight after UFC 303 triumph

Alex Pereira defeated Jiri Prochazka for the second time in eight months on Saturday night, knocking out the light heavyweight with a vicious head kick in UFC 303 at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

Following the resounding victory, murmurs about Pereira moving to heavyweight and fighting reigning champion Jon Jones have become deafening roars.

“I think that’s in my future,” said Pereira, via translator, when asked by Joe Rogan after the fight if he’d consider a move to heavyweight.

“I said that last time I was here, I say that a lot but there didn’t seem to be too much interest in the organisation.

“But I’m here, I’m available and I do think that this is in my future.

“I think the fans have a lot of say in this, whatever they want.

“In the end, these are the people paying for this and if this is what they want, it’s going to be inevitable.”

Pereira’s comments were met by loud applause from the Las Vegas crowd, indicating the Brazilian has fan support for a shift in weight class.

Dana White open to Pereira vs Jones fight

If there was resistance from the UFC about a Pereira vs Jones fight at heavyweight, it seems that has dissipated now.

UFC CEO Dana White indicated he’s inclined to go along with what fans want now.

“I’m standing up there with the belt and I had Joe Rogan in my ear the whole time we were up there,” he said.

“‘Let him fight heavyweight. Come on. Just do it.’

“I know that’s what people want to see.”

If the fight was to occur and Pereira won, he would become the first-ever three-division champion in the UFC.

The Brazilian has already won belts in the middleweight and light heavyweight divisions.

Jones, on the other hand, has never lost a fight in the UFC, with the exception of a disqualification 15 years ago.

UFC bookmakers would have a field day if the super fight came to fruition. Jones would likely be favoured, but not by much.

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