Tom Aspinall is open to welcoming Alex Pereira to heavyweight – but only if it’s an undisputed title fight.
Interim heavyweight champion Aspinall (15-3 MMA, 8-1 UFC) is fresh off a title defense against Curtis Blaydes, where he needed exactly a minute to take him out at UFC 304 in July.
Light heavyweight champion Pereira (11-2 MMA, 8-1 UFC) is currently without an opponent, after leading candidate Magomed Ankalaev was booked against Aleksandar Rakic Oct. 26 at UFC 308 in Abu Dhabi.
Aspinall’s lone focus is a title-unifying bout vs. the winner of heavyweight champion Jon Jones vs. Stipe Miocic, but isn’t ruling out a future bout with Pereira.
“The guy’s a superstar in the sport, so do whatever you want,” Aspinall said of Pereira on his YouTube channel. “If we meet, for sure, I think we’re both on the same page: It’s going to be for an undisputed heavyweight title. Maybe see you next year at some point.
“Like I’ve said, I’ve got a lot of respect for Alex Pereira and what he’s done in the sport, and especially in a short amount of time. But if we’re going to make it happen, it’s going to be for the undisputed title. So see him there.”
Pereira, who knocked out Jiri Prochazka a second time at UFC 303 in June, has said on numerous occasions that he would entertain a move up to heavyweight. However, UFC CEO Dana White wasn’t too keen on the idea, warning “Poatan” of the size difference at the weight class above.
