Alex Pereira has taken issue with Jon Jones’ response to his recent title defeat, calling out the UFC heavyweight champion for a silent reaction video posted in the aftermath of Pereira’s loss.
Pereira failed in his attempt to win a UFC title at the White House on June 14, losing by second-round knockout to Ciryl Gane. Shortly after, Jones shared a video wearing a goat necklace and not speaking, which was widely interpreted as a shot at Pereira, before later posting a message congratulating Gane on the victory.
In a YouTube video, Pereira said, "I saw the video and, honestly, I was surprised" and added, "Honestly, I just don’t understand why he did that when an athlete is going through a tough moment." He emphasized that he has never taken verbal shots at Jones, saying, "I’ve always spoken highly of him" and, "But even with all of this, I’m not going to stop being a fan of his. I’ve always spoken well of him. I’m a fan. I just don’t understand why he did that."
Pereira also used the video to criticize referee Herb Dean, claiming Dean missed illegal strikes to the back of his head during the bout with Gane.
The fallout comes after Pereira moved up in weight following a first-round knockout win over Magomed Ankalaev in 2025 to regain the UFC light heavyweight belt. He had been seeking a heavyweight title fight with Jones, with both expressing interest, but the UFC ultimately chose a different direction instead of booking that matchup.
