Michael Bisping believes there’s a scenario on the horizon that could tempt Jon Jones to return to the UFC, and it runs straight through Alex Pereira’s heavyweight ambitions.
Pereira is set to face Ciryl Gane for the interim heavyweight title in the co-main event of UFC Freedom 250 in Washington, with the winner expected to meet Tom Aspinall to unify the belts. Bisping thinks a historic third UFC title for Pereira could be the catalyst for Jones to re-enter the picture after leaving the promotion following contractual disagreements.
"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," Bisping said.
Bisping is intrigued by Pereira’s move up, noting, "He looks big. He looks solid. We all know his track record," but he’s leaning the other way at UFC Freedom 250. "No one knows really completely confidently which way to lean on this. I'm leaning toward Ciryl Gane, if I'm honest, because he's got the track record at heavyweight. He's used to taking those kind of shots. He's used to operating at that weight. There's a lot of unanswered questions with Alex. Doesn't mean that he's not going to tick all of those boxes and pass it with flying colors, but we just don't know."
Tom Aspinall currently holds the heavyweight title after Jon Jones vacated the belt and a planned Jones vs. Aspinall fight did not happen.
