In the UFC, there seems to be a growing trend of fighters calling out champions for allegedly avoiding the top contenders. From Jon Jones being accused of ducking Tom Aspinall to Alex Pereira facing similar accusations from Magomed Ankalaev, these tensions are rising. Ahead of UFC 309, the No. 1 contender Ankalaev has now called out two of UFC’s double champions, adding fuel to the ongoing debate about champion-competitor matchups.
Recently, on X, Magomed Ankalaev expressed his frustration with the current situation in the UFC. He pointed out that Jon Jones seems uninterested in fighting Tom Aspinall, while Alex Pereira is still recovering after his matchup with Khalil Rountree. Unlike them, Ankalaev is hungry for a fight. He added that once he defeats Pereira, he will be ready to take on Jon Jones.
In his words, “Jones doesn’t want to fight Aspinall, Perreira is recovering and I’m hungry. I will beat Perreira and after that I can beat Jones.”
Ankalaev’s post on X really shook things up, calling out both Jones and Pereira, claiming he could take them both down. But the real question is, will Jones take the challenge? Given the fact he already stated that his next fight will be against Pereira after UFC 309, possibly vacating his heavyweight title to pursue the BMF belt. With Jones sticking to his plan, Ankalaev may have to wait longer than he expects to get the shot he’s after.
Jon Jones Ready To Vacate His Belt After UFC 309 To Fight Alex Pereira For BMF Title
Ahead of UFC 309, Jon Jones has reiterated that his primary focus is on Alex Pereira following his fight with Stipe Miocic. He’s made it clear that no other match-up excites him. In a surprising move, Jones has even suggested he’s willing to vacate his heavyweight title to take on Pereira for the BMF belt, emphasizing how important the fight is for his legacy.
He said, “It’d be cool to fight over the heavyweight championship. But I would also willingly give up the heavyweight championship….Fighting Pereira for the BMF belt, that would be cool.”
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This statement has undoubtedly left fans and fighters alike wondering if Jones is truly ready to follow through on this risky but high-stakes challenge. Given Pereira’s current red-hot form, a fight between him and Jones would be incredibly exciting and entertaining. However, it’s also a risky move for Jones, especially after he refuses to engage with interim heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall to unify the titles.
Also Read: Joe Rogan Explains Why Jon Jones’ Height Is His Secret Weapon In MMA
