What can one do to keep the UFC heavyweight division moving? This has been a never-ending topic of discussion of late. With the reigning champion, Tom Aspinall, sidelined after having double eye surgery, and Ciryl Gane waiting for that rematch, no one in heavyweight is setting the cage on fire. One UFC star whose name keeps coming up as a potential solution for Dana White amid this slowdown is Alex Pereira. Former UFC fighters and analysts have echoed similar sentiments.

UFC veteran Matt Brown is backing the idea, especially if Alex Pereira is willing to test himself in a bigger weight class. Chael Sonnen has also hinted at a potential showdown, even floating the idea of Pereira facing Ciryl Gane at the White House. With Pereira having already captured titles at middleweight and light heavyweight, a move to heavyweight now appears to be the only leap that makes sense.

Matt Brown pitches Alex Pereira vs Ciryl Gane to keep the heavyweight division moving

“It only takes one person, right? Really, to kind of revitalize the division because no one really cares who they’re beating, right? They can kind of build up anyone good enough to come and beat him,” Matt Brown pointed out the change that would help move the division from dire straits. “So, you know, with that said, I think you’re kind of forgetting about the one X Factor guy, too, and Alex Pereira. He comes up to heavyweight. I think that revitalizes that division a lot, right? Because of his coming up, for one, being a — you know, he was a 185-er originally — he moves all the way up to heavyweight looking for his third title.”

“Gable Steveson coming through is obviously going to be the X Factor because he’s going to f*** everybody up, whether you like it or not. And, you know, who knows — how is Cain? I mean, does he actually have a shot at coming back? You book Ciryl Gane against Alex Pereira in like an interim title fight. Yeah, keep the division moving a little bit. And then the winner gets Aspinall when he comes back. Like, would that be the move?”

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While Cain Velasquez is unlikely to return to the Octagon at 43, Gable Steveson is one name that has been making some noise in the combat world lately, as Jon Jones’s protege. It would be a treat to see him in the heavyweight division. Since UFC 321, the division has been in a dire state as it has failed to produce interesting matches, and there has been no update on Aspinall’s return timeline.

With that said, Pereira initially planned to face Jon Jones in a superfight at the White House Card, which was turned down by Dana White due to trust issues with Jones. However, White might book ‘Poatan’ for the interim heavyweight title fight if the Brazilian vacates his light-heavyweight title. While Pereira and Gane both have teased a match, MMA analysts believe the UFC must move on with the division until Aspinall returns to the Octagon.

Michael Bisping urges UFC to move forward as heavyweight uncertainty lingers

UFC Hall of Famer Michael Bisping believes the heavyweight title situation will be resolved soon, irrespective of Aspinall’s situation. During a recent video on his YouTube channel, Michael Bisping addressed Tom Aspinall’s injury layoff and the ripple effect it has had on the UFC heavyweight division. “The Count” stressed that the reigning champion isn’t to blame for the situation, but noted that the UFC still has to keep the division moving and its operations running in his absence.

“This is the world that we live in,” Bisping said. “The show must go on. I went through multiple eye surgeries. I wasn’t in constant communication with the UFC… I’m not talking sh*t, by the way. They’ve got a business to run. They’ve got a worldwide, massive corporation to run, putting on the best fights on the planet, OK? And if someone gets hurt, well then that’s a real shame, but the show goes on.”

The UFC legend made it clear he wasn’t trying to take a shot at Aspinall and even praised him, but from the promotion’s perspective, he believes bringing in reigning light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira to move up and fill the gap would be a huge boost for the division.

“I understand that he’s pissed off and he’s going through a lot right now. Just ignore all of that sh*t. Just come back and win your next fight, dominate the next few, make tons of money, and retire. But in the meantime, let’s get back to Alex Pereira. If [Tom Aspinall] isn’t fighting anytime soon, and it certainly looks like he isn’t fighting anytime soon, then this, ‘1-2-3 and go’ from Alex Pereira to me, is clear as day.”

Bisping isn’t the only one who seems concerned; the heavyweight division has been living in nostalgia, far from being the best division in the UFC, like it once was. Maybe only Alex Pereira and a few named fighters outside of the UFC can save the division from going into ruins.