Bisping thinks a Pereira win would lure Jones back to UFC

WASHINGTON – Jon Jones may have walked away from the UFC, but one of the promotion's chief analysts sees a situation in which he could return.

If Alex Pereira makes history Sunday and becomes the first fighter to win a title in three UFC divisions, Michael Bisping thinks Jones might have a change of heart after he left largely because of contractual disagreements.

Pereira (13-3 MMA, 10-2 UFC), a former middleweight and light heavyweight champion, will fight Ciryl Gane (13-2 MMA, 10-2 UFC) for the interim heavyweight title in the UFC Freedom 250 co-main event at the White House. The winner presumably will fight champion Tom Aspinall to unify the belts. Aspinall remains out after surgeries to repair injuries to his eyes from pokes from Gane in their title fight in 2025.

Aspinall fought Gane to begin with after Jones finally vacated and Aspinall was promoted from interim to full champion. Jones delayed a fight with Aspinall for months, and it never came to fruition. That left a bad taste in many mouths, but Michael Bisping thinks a Pereira win could lure Jones back.

"If Alex Pereira wins, pulls it off, becomes a three-weight division champion, I've got a funny feeling that a certain someone will be reaching out and going, 'You know what? I fancy that Alex Pereira fight,'" former middleweight champ and current analyst Bisipng told MMA Junkie. "Jon Jones-Alex Pereira, stylistically it did favor Jon, and maybe that would tempt him out of retirement — which wouldn't be a good look considering what he did with Tom Aspinall. But still, I'd want to see it."

The odds on the Pereira vs. Gane interim title fight have been essentially a pick'em from the time it was booked. No major sites are offering plus-money on either fighter.

Bisping thinks Gane has the edge, given it's Pereira's first trip to heavyweight. But Pereira already is being talked about as a possible MMA GOAT, even before a third title. Bisping thinks that would be the edge to lure Jones out.

"He looks big. He looks solid. We all know his track record," Bisping said of Pereira. "I think that's going to be Fight of the Night. I just don't think either man has got any quit in them – just the contrast of their striking styles. Pereira is just blunt force, but very technical whereas Gane's much lighter and flowy on the feet. So, it's really interesting.