The UFC is once again caught in a storm of “what ifs.” Alex Pereira‘s challenge to Jon Jones, a fight at the UFC’s anticipated White House event, has piqued every fan’s interest. The battle would be epic, the kind that defines eras and makes history books. However, Chael Sonnen believes that its fate may not rest with either man. Instead, it could all depend on one bout: Tom Aspinall‘s rematch against Ciryl Gane.

That controversial matchup has become a pivot point in the heavyweight division. Their last encounter ended in chaos when Gane’s repeated eye pokes forced a doctor stoppage. The Briton was furious, fans were split, and the UFC had a mess to clear up. Now, as both prepare to look for a rematch, ‘The American Gangster’ feels that the result will determine whether Jon Jones gets his White House fight.

Chael Sonnen says only one path leads to Jon Jones vs. Alex Pereira

Chael Sonnen analyzed the situation in his most recent YouTube video. “What is the most interesting fight for Jon Jones? Is it Aspinall? Is it Gane? Or is it Poatan?” he asked. It’s a question that seems obvious at first, but ‘The American Gangster’ flipped the logic on its head. For him, the Jones-Pereira dream fight is only possible if Ciryl Gane defeats Tom Aspinall.

“Do you believe that Ciryl is going to beat Tom? If you believe the answer is yes, then you’ve got to make Jones and Poatan.” The logic is simple: if Ciryl Gane reclaims momentum at heavyweight, ‘Bones’ will be able to return without having to face the English juggernaut he avoided. Sonnen further stated, “The one part that I know I’m right—they don’t want Jones and Gane again. They’re just not going to make that fight.”

According to the UFC legend, a win for ‘Bon Gamin’ would provide the UFC with a fresh plot: Jones vs. Pereira, possibly without a belt involved. “You could wait, you could put Alex in there with Gane, but it still comes back to Jones, and he’s just a year older and a year later,” he further said in the video. “So if you’re going to do that fight, it makes more sense to not do it for the belt. And that’s an interesting conversation.”

It’s a fascinating theory—one that connects the heavyweight and light heavyweight divisions with a single thread. If Tom Aspinall wins, he will continue to stand in the way of Jones’ comeback. But if Ciryl Gane wins, the scenario is suddenly set for the ultimate matchup: no obligations, no lingering rivalries, simply Jon Jones vs. Alex Pereira under the bright lights of the White House lawn.

For now, the Brazilian’s recent callout still hangs in the air. “Jon Jones. White House. Chama,” he said, igniting some interesting reaction from fans. Jones, however, has remained silent but has described fighting Pereira as “the biggest of all time.” But is it truly the biggest fight possible in the UFC? Well, not according to a man whom many consider to be the MMA GOAT.

Khabib Nurmagomedov names a fight bigger than Jon Jones vs. Aspinall

While fans continue to dream about Jon Jones vs. Alex Pereira in the White House, UFC legend Khabib Nurmagomedov has a different vision. For the former lightweight champion, it isn’t the biggest fight the UFC can make right now. In his opinion, only one pairing tops it: Islam Makhachev vs. Ilia Topuria.

“I think right now, yeah, (Ilia) Topuria and Islam (Makhachev) is the biggest fight,” Khabib told the Weighing In podcast. “Not Jon Jones and (Alex) Pereira.” Coming from someone who has long been compared to Jones in pound-for-pound debates, his take surely hits hard. For ‘The Eagle,’ Makhachev vs. Topuria represents something new: two unbeaten champions from different styles and regions colliding at their peaks.

“It’s still a big fight, but not at that level,” he said, alluding to Jones and ‘Poatan.’ And maybe he’s right. Jones and Pereira represent the sport’s past and present, while Makhachev and Topuria represent its future. It is the next power fight set to establish a new UFC era. So, what do you think? Will we get to see either of these fights in 2026? Let us know in the comments.