Jon Jones may have defeated Stipe Miocic, but the pressure for him to step back into the Octagon hasn’t eased. Speculation about his next opponent continues to swirl, with Tom Aspinall dominating the conversation. From Daniel Cormier to Chael Sonnen, everyone has weighed in on whether Jones should face the surging British heavyweight. Amid the debates, Ciryl Gane’s coach, Fernand Lopez, shared his perspective, offering a surprising yet compelling argument for why a matchup between Jones and Alex Pereira might make more sense.

Speaking to Mike Owens on the Inside Fighting channel, Lopez explained the motivations behind Jones’ potential choice. He highlighted the strategic mindset of fighters aiming to cement their legacy by facing opponents who elevate their status. Lopez clarified that his stance wasn’t meant to undermine Aspinall’s abilities, as the Brit is undoubtedly a dangerous and talented fighter. However, he stressed that legacy, not risk alone, plays a crucial role in such decisions.

“Who is forward? Jon Jones,” Lopez began. “Why would Jon Jones look back and fight Tom Aspinall? When Tom Aspinall is, one, dangerous, and two, not a valuable factor for legacy. On the other hand, you have Pereira, who has done everything—Glory champion, double champion in the UFC. Why not go there and fight him?”, Lopez further added.

Drawing from his experience preparing Ciryl Gane for UFC 285 and helping Francis Ngannou rise to prominence, Lopez understands the intricacies of crafting matchups against someone like the consensus MMA GOAT. He offered a clear rationale for why Pereira, a former Glory Kickboxing champion and two-division UFC titleholder, is a more compelling opponent for Jones.

Fernand Lopez also gave high praise to Alex Pereira, suggesting that ‘Poatan’ would bring in better pay-per-view sales. Lopez further explained that fighters often prioritize matchups that promise the biggest business impact. This perspective sheds light on why Aspinall isn’t waiting to face Ciryl Gane—as Gane’s recent rank drop makes him a less appealing opponent for Aspinall, who, as the interim champion, is aiming for a unification bout with Jones.

However, even Jones’ coach, Brandon Gibson, has indicated that a unification clash between Jones and Aspinall might not be feasible just yet.

Brandon Gibson shuts down any possibility of a Jones-Aspinall clash

Brandon Gibson, Jon Jones’ longtime coach, recently shared his candid thoughts on the heavyweight champion’s future. According to Gibson, Jones has nothing left to prove and could retire on top after his victory over Stipe Miocic at UFC 309. “I’m also ready to see Jon hang it up, you know. Put the belt up. I’d prefer him to walk away, obviously, earlier than later,” Gibson said in an interview with MMA Fighting. Gibson further added, “Out of all the fighters, Jon deserves to walk away anytime he wants. There’s never any pressure on me, like, ‘Oh, we gotta fight one more time, we gotta fight the next number one contender.”

Despite his coach’s endorsement of retirement, Jones has shown interest in a blockbuster fight against Alex Pereira following Pereira’s performance at Madison Square Garden. However, UFC CEO Dana White quickly dismissed the idea of a Jones vs. Pereira bout, citing Jones’ massive physique at heavyweight as a mismatch for the 205lbs champion. Speaking to reporters, White stated, “There’s no f—ing way I make Jones vs. Pereira happen. Jon is too big at this point in his career.”

With Jones’ legacy secure and multiple possibilities on the table, the question remains: will he retire as the reigning champion, take on Aspinall for heavyweight supremacy, or pursue the challenge of Pereira? Who do you think ‘Bones’ will face next—or will he walk away from the Octagon for good? Share your predictions below!