If Alex Pereira is to go down as the greatest fighter to ever enter the Octagon, he has a clear route, it seems.
Garnering massive plaudits post-UFC 320, Alex Pereira managed to reclaim the light heavyweight crown, taking out Magomed Ankalaev with a devastating 80-second knockout.
And avenging his loss to the Russian earlier this year, Pereira made a sizable climb in the promotion’s pound-for-pound rankings.
But linked with a massive return at the White House next summer, Pereira may be on the cusp of GOAT status in combat sports if he plays his cards right.
Alex Pereira urged to fight Jon Jones to secure GOAT status
Now considered one of the best fighters to ever compete in the Octagon, Sao Paulo megastar Pereira can separate himself from the rest with a victory over Jon Jones in a rumored showdown, according to the latter’s long-time rival.
As far as Hall of Fame star Daniel Cormier is concerned, Pereira needs just one more win — albeit against Jones to be considered the best of the rest in mixed martial arts history.
“If he (Alex Pereira) went to beat Jon Jones at heavyweight, Alex Pereira — who is already considered one of the greatest of all time — in the most expedited timelines I have ever seen, would literally cement himself to almost stand above everyone.
“Because he would have beaten a former UFC light heavyweight champion and heavyweight champion, and the guy many consider to be the greatest of all time.”
Fans shocked by Alex Pereira vs. Jon Jones matchup
Seemingly preferring a shot at Jones over a historic heavyweight title affair against either Tom Aspinall or Ciryl Gane for a third Octagon crown, Pereira has played up a fight with the Rochester star.
And as such, opening odds have already been released for the potential pairing of Pereira and Jones.
To many fans’ surprise, the line in question has opened quite wider than expected, even when taking into account former two-weight champion Jones’ recent retirement from combat sports.