Alex Pereira took a playful but pointed jab at one of MMA’s greatest legends. And Jon Jones wasn’t about to let it slide. Pereira, one of the UFC’s biggest stars and the reigning light heavyweight champion, has gone viral in recent days after revisiting the tire shop in Brazil where he once worked before his meteoric rise in combat sports. The moment struck a chord with fans as a rags-to-riches reminder of Pereira’s unlikely journey.
But “Poatan” added fuel to the fire. In a video posted to social media, Pereira showed a tire with the words “Jon Jones next” written on it sitting beside a hammer labeled “Poatan.” The message was impossible to miss.
Jon Jones Responds: “Be Careful What You Wish For”
The post quickly caught Jones’ attention, and the former two-division UFC champion delivered a response of his own.
“I’ve beat a lot of legends from your country, my friend,” Jones wrote. “I know you’d love to avenge the boys, but boy would you be a good one to add to my list. Be careful what you wish for. Chama.”
The exchange instantly reignited one of the most intriguing hypothetical matchups in modern MMA a showdown that has hovered on the edge of reality for years.
A Superfight That Almost Happened
Friction between Jones and Pereira is nothing new. The two have publicly flirted with the idea of fighting dating back several years, but interest peaked in late 2024 when Jones defended the UFC heavyweight title against Stipe Miocic, while Pereira reigned at light heavyweight.
At the time, a champ-vs.-champ superfight appeared within reach.
Instead, the bout never materialized. Jones vacated the heavyweight belt and announced his retirement only to reverse course and unretire months later, leaving the door cracked open for future possibilities.
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Robert LaMar is a writer for Dice City Sports. You can follow him on X via @RobertLaMar26
