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In almost three years, which is relatively a short duration, Alex Pereira has established his place among the greats and has become a superstar. After delivering another knockout win for the fans at UFC 303, he shed light on the query that fans have had for a long time – a move to heavyweight. But before he did that, Joe Rogan was already buzzing about ‘Poatan’s next venture as per Dana White‘s recent claims.

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“If this is what they [the fans] want, it’s going to be inevitable.” That’s what Alex Pereira said after he knocked out Jiri Prochazka and weighed in on a heavyweight move. Meanwhile, Dana White later revealed that Joe Rogan had been pushing for ‘Poatan’s heavyweight move while they were at the T-Mobile Arena.

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Dana White reveals what Joe Rogan told him about Alex Pereira’s next fight

It was at UFC 300 when Alex Pereira mentioned his urge to make the big jump to Jon Jones‘s weight class to chase the third belt. That seemed to have kept playing on Joe Rogan’s mind because Dana White claimed that he just won’t stop explaining to him the possibility of seeing him fight in the heavyweight division next. The 56-year-old kept urging the UFC CEO to join the bandwagon.

During the post-fight press conference, Dana White stated, “I’m standing up there with the belt and had Joe Rogan in my ear the whole time we’re up there. ‘Let him fight at heavyweight, come on! Just do it.'” It was evident that Rogan was interested to see how the heavyweight treats Alex Pereira since he had asked the 205-pound champion about that particular thing in the Octagon interview.

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The UFC CEO, meanwhile, isn’t opposed to that. However, because of the big Stipe Miocic vs Jon Jones and Tom Aspinall vs Curtis Blaydes plans, Dana White might take some time before seeing Alex Pereira fight in the heavyweight division to become the first three-division champion. “I know that is what people wanna see. We’ll see how this whole thing plays out,” Dana White added.

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He also doubled down on his plans to go ahead with the Jones vs Miocic fight when a reporter asked him if Alex Pereira could become a factor and get into the mix with the heavyweight champion. “We’re definitely committed to that [Jones vs Stipe],” White added. But did you know? The UFC CEO doesn’t think that Pereira can hang inside the Octagon with Jones.

The UFC CEO’s thoughts on Pereira’s chances against Jon Jones

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While in conversation on the ‘Club Shay Shay’ recently, Dana White just came clean about people talking about Alex Pereira fighting Jon Jones. Before we continue further, we must remember that the 54-year-old holds ‘Bones’ in the highest regard and has been vocal about his status as the greatest of all time. And yes, keeping that in mind, White doesn’t think that Pereira could try anything new that others haven’t tried to do to Jon Jones.

Pereira is amazing. [But] I think Jon Jones walks through everybody man,” Dana White asserted. But can these comments stop Alex Pereira from making the big move and possibly challenging Jon Jones? Probably not. However, it depends on what route the UFC CEO would carve for the Brazilian as he looks forward to his next fight.

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What do you think about Alex Pereira moving to heavyweight? Can he compete against the indomitable Jon Jones? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.

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Himanga Mahanta

4,196 Articles

Himanga Mahanta is a Senior UFC Writer at EssentiallySports and a key pillar of the combat sports team. With over three years in sports journalism, he leads the site’s MMA PPV Live Coverage Desk, closely working with real-time updates, in-depth analysis, and trend-driven insights that keep fans ahead of the curve. From breaking news and beat reports to exclusive stories and sharp opinion pieces, Himanga’s coverage spans the full spectrum of the MMA world. His insightful reporting has earned recognition within the combat sports community, including mentions from notable figures such as Chael Sonnen. A keen observer of fight dynamics and a devoted Conor McGregor fan, Himanga blends passion with journalistic precision, making his work a reliable go-to for UFC followers worldwide.

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Sakshi Jain

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