Dana White says Alex Pereira can pass Jon Jones as MMA’s GOAT (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)
Dana White has raised the stakes around Alex Pereira’s next fight, saying the former two-division UFC champion could move ahead of Jon Jones in the all-time debate if he wins a third UFC title.
Pereira (13-3) is scheduled to face Ciryl Gane (13-2) for the interim heavyweight championship on June 14 at UFC Freedom 250 at the White House. The Brazilian has already held UFC titles at middleweight and light heavyweight and is now attempting to become the first fighter in company history to win belts in three divisions.
White Puts Pereira In GOAT Conversation
White has often called Jones the greatest fighter in MMA history, but he said Pereira’s potential achievement would change that discussion.
“If he wins the third world title that night, he jumps over Jon Jones and becomes the greatest of all time,” White told Forbes.
Pereira’s rise has been one of the fastest in modern UFC history. After a decorated kickboxing career, where he won titles in two weight classes in Glory, he moved fully into MMA and signed with the UFC for his fifth professional fight.
He won the middleweight title in 2022 by defeating Israel Adesanya, then moved to light heavyweight and captured another belt. Earlier this year, Pereira vacated the 205-pound title to prepare for a move to heavyweight.
Gane Fight Could Set Up Aspinall Clash
The interim title fight against Gane could also determine the next challenger for undisputed heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall.
Aspinall is recovering from multiple eye injuries suffered in his most recent bout. His manager, boxing promoter Eddie Hearn, has also said he wants to renegotiate Aspinall’s UFC contract before the champion returns.
That leaves Pereira-Gane as a major fight for both the heavyweight division and the UFC’s broader GOAT discussion.
Jones Still Linked To Pereira Fight
Jones retired in 2025, but later said he would consider returning for a fight against Pereira. Jones (28-1) owns the UFC record with 16 wins in title fights and remains the fighter White has most consistently described as the best ever.
A Pereira victory at heavyweight would not settle every argument, but it would give him a distinction no UFC fighter has ever held. It would also create new interest across MMA media, sportsbooks and betting markets, including coverage around MMA betting sites ahead of the White House event.
For now, Pereira’s immediate task is Gane, a former interim heavyweight champion who has twice fought for the undisputed belt. If Pereira wins, the UFC could have a historic three-division champion and a new centrepiece for its heavyweight plans.