‘Chance to avenge the Brazilians’

Current heavyweight champion challenged Brazilian Alex Poatan, holder of the light heavyweight belt, to a super fight in the UFC. In a post on Xthis Friday (3/5), ‘Bones’ cited the fact that he had beaten other important Brazilian fighters as one of the reasons for putting the belt up for grabs against Poatan.

“If Alex became the heavyweight champion, would you consider him the GOAT (greatest fighter of all time)? Returning to the gym made me think differently. This fight, after facing Stipe Miocic, could be the next big move I could make”, began the American, mentioning the next title defense, with no date set yet.

“This assassin has already defeated so many champions and is already considered a legend to millions around the world. It’s the biggest fight the UFC could make. Give Alex the chance to avenge the great Brazilian champions that I beat”, added Jones, who beat Maurício Shogun, Lyoto Machida and Glover Teixeira and Vitor Belfort in the UFC – the last four in title disputes.

“It would be huge. A guy with the chance to be champion in three categories. It will be a duel between a GOAT and the real GOAT. Same age, different strengths. No one can deny that it would be the biggest MMA fight in history. There is no fight that generates a movement of money like this. The marketing would be insane”, concluded Jones, recalling that Poatan was middleweight champion before assuming the light heavyweight throne.

Jon Jones in the UFC

Jon Jones was the youngest champion in UFC history – he won the light heavyweight title at just 23 years old.

Today, at 36 years old, the fighter has already won the belt 15 times, in two different categories: light heavyweight (93kg) and heavyweight (120kg) and has only lost one fight (due to disqualification) in the 28 he has fought in his career.

Poatan in the UFC

Former kickboxing champion, Alex Poatan joined the UFC in 2021. A year and three fights later, the Brazilian became middleweight champion (83kg) by beating former rival Israel Adesanya, to whom he lost the belt in an immediate rematch.

In November 2023, Poatan won the light heavyweight belt by knocking out Jiri Prochazka. In his first title defense, in April 2024, he beat Jamahal Hill, also by knockout.

In MMA, Alex Poatan has ten wins and two losses in his nine-year career.