Copyright Essentially Sports
It had all the makings of a blockbuster: an unrivaled setting, two of MMA’s most dominant champions, and a dream fight that might headline the UFC’s historic White House event. Standing before the Colosseum in Rome, Alex Pereira delivered his pitch to the world: “Jon Jones. White House. Chama.” It was bold, theatrical, and meant to set the internet on fire. But ‘Poatan’ wasn’t expecting the blaze to spark a backlash. Instead of praising the callout to Jon Jones, fans made a sharp U-turn. The fight, which should have been a fantasy tale for the ages, felt forced. Perhaps it was the time, the setting, or simply that the MMA world had gone on. Whatever the reason, the internet did not buy into the hype. ADVERTISEMENT Fans drop a brutal reality check on Alex Pereira vs. Jon Jones “Only true casuals are excited for this,” one fan commented, setting the tone. The criticism came in quickly and mercilessly. “Bro scared to give Big Ank his trilogy fight lmao,” another added, referring to Magomed Ankalaev as the more deserving opponent. Even those who admired Alex Pereira‘s rise appeared tired of the ongoing heavyweight flirtation, especially if it isn’t for the title. “Boring! Fight Tom and have a chance at becoming the first triple champ in UFC history,” a fan suggested. “Nobody wants this! Ngannou or Aspinall is the only right answer.” Others saw the fight as a potential mismatch, rather than a spectacle. “I don’t know about this one,” a fan wrote. “Who would actually want to see JBJ come out of retirement just to sub Poatan in 1 round?” The feeling was repeated several times: adoration for ‘Poatan,’ but realistic expectations of what Jon Jones brings to the table. “You got slept by the most skinny 185er ever (Israel Adesanya); what makes you think you can stand against the mighty Jones?” one comment said bluntly. “Ngl, Jones chokes him by the 2nd round,” another added. ADVERTISEMENT Even among the critics, a minority of fans defended the chaos. “Fight of the Decade,” one user announced defiantly, while another stated, “I’d take this over Jones vs. Aspinall any day.” The love was not gone; it was just rare, buried beneath cynicism and nostalgia. Despite the noise, the callout accomplished one thing: it reignited interest in Jon Jones. ADVERTISEMENT Read Top Stories First From EssentiallySports Click here and check box next to EssentiallySports Despite his claimed retirement, it seems like he remains the axis around which MMA revolves. Whether fans dislike, adore, or mock Jones’s fights, they are always memorable. And for Alex Pereira, bringing ‘Bones’ back into the spotlight could have been the idea all along. But it is worth noting that he isn’t the only one looking to face the former heavyweight champion. Francis Ngannou claims to be the better match than Alex Pereira If Alex Pereira’s “White House” callout drew attention, Francis Ngannou‘s reaction grabbed the spotlight. The former UFC heavyweight champion was clear: Jones vs. Pereira may be entertaining, but it is not the fight. ‘The Predator’ believes that the only contest worthy of that platform is Jon Jones vs. Francis Ngannou, a dream fight that the world never got. ADVERTISEMENT “If they’re fighting, I’ll watch,” Ngannou stated. “But it’s not the fight.” It wasn’t arrogance—it was unfinished business. He’s the fighter who left the UFC without losing his title, and the one ‘Bones’ was meant to face before negotiations fell apart. Watching Jon Jones chase new challenges while that chapter remains closed clearly doesn’t sit well.
