The UFC heavyweight division is in a state of flux, and a former champion believes Alex Pereira is poised to capitalize on the chaos. After Jon Jones's retirement, Tom Aspinall was crowned champion, but his reign has been marred by injury. Now, the question on everyone's mind is: what's next?
Following the events in Abu Dhabi last October, the heavyweight division is once again facing uncertainty.
After Dana White announced Jon Jones’ retirement, Tom Aspinall was elevated to undisputed status, but his reign hasn't gone smoothly. A no-contest due to an eye injury has sidelined him, and his recovery is taking longer than expected.
So, what's the UFC's plan?
Former MMA champion Josh Thomson believes the promotion might create an interim title fight. On his podcast, Weighing In, Thomson suggested that with Aspinall's uncertain recovery, the UFC might set up an interim heavyweight title fight in 2026. This could pave the way for Alex Pereira to make history as the first triple champion in UFC history.
Thomson believes the fight will be between Ciryl Gane and Alex Pereira. He noted that Pereira has been sparring with heavyweights, suggesting he's preparing for the division.
But here's where it gets controversial...
Pereira has expressed interest in fighting Jon Jones at heavyweight. However, Dana White seems hesitant to make that fight happen.
What do you think? Would you like to see Alex Pereira fight Ciryl Gane for an interim UFC heavyweight title while Tom Aspinall recovers? Share your thoughts in the comments below! Is Pereira ready for the heavyweight division? Let's discuss!
