Alex Pereira does not take public predictions lightly, and Melquizael Costa learned that after picking Jon Jones to beat him in a hypothetical fight. Pereira answered the comment directly and turned it into a personal back-and-forth.
Costa wrote, “Never ask me a question thinking I will stay on top of the wall. If this fight happens it will be two Goats fighting, the best striker vs the best grappling. And yeah I think JJ would win.”
Pereira responded, “Bro you root for whoever you want and it’s all right! F–ked up is saying something you don’t even know and as if I did something to you.”
Pereira brought up their history from the LFA days
Pereira then said the issue was bigger than Costa making a Jon Jones pick. He brought up a past encounter from their LFA days and suggested Costa had been holding onto that moment.
Pereira wrote, “When I was at the LFA and you were going to fight … you came and stuck your phone in my face when I was at the hotel drinking coffee and eating, you didn’t even ask if you could. I said you had to ask me if you could record a video, maybe you got mad because I called you out.”
He followed with another message and wrote:
“But I thought you weren’t mad because we were having dinner together in Mexico and I was giving you strength because you were crying because you lost the fight. Now when you win two fights you’re the almighty? Bro, I can lose 8 matches in a row!”
Watch the post that highlighted the exchange below.
Alex Pereira did NOT take kindly to Melk Costa picking Jon Jones to beat him in a fight 😬
“F*cked up is saying something as if I did something to you.”
“We were having dinner together in Mexico and I was giving you strength because you were crying because you lost a fight.” pic.twitter.com/JSd4D8Fu7X
— ACD MMA (@acdmma_) April 2, 2026
The exchange became notable because Costa did not insult Pereira outright. He gave his opinion on a fantasy matchup and picked Jones, which is a common take whenever Jones’ grappling is matched against Pereira’s striking. Pereira treated it as a personal shot and answered with specific history between them.
Costa is also scheduled to headline UFC Vegas 117 against Arnold Allen on May 16. That upcoming fight gives the exchange more attention because Costa is heading into the biggest main event spot of his UFC run while trading words with one of the promotion’s biggest stars.
The result was a public argument that started with a Jon Jones prediction and ended with Pereira bringing up old grievances. It was a small comment that turned into a real feud once Pereira decided to answer it himself.
