Jon Jones has issued a direct response to Alex Pereira following a callout that quickly circulated across social media. The exchange has intensified discussion about a possible matchup between the two fighters, especially with talk surrounding a major UFC event planned for June.
Throughout his career, Jones has faced and defeated some of the most accomplished fighters from Brazil. His list of victories includes Maurício Shogun Rua, Lyoto Machida, Vitor Belfort, Glover Teixeira, and Thiago Santos. That history shaped the tone of his message to Pereira.
The Callout From Brazil
While visiting his home country, Pereira stopped by the tire shop where he once worked. Standing inside the shop, he recorded a short video directed toward Jones and the UFC, saying, “We’re here in the tire shop, chama,” before showing a tire marked with “Next Jones UFC.”
The clip gained attention online and did not take long to reach Jones.
Alex Pereira hinting at the Jon Jones fight while at the tire shop back in Brazil 👀 pic.twitter.com/1905ercRZz
— Happy Punch (@HappyPunch) January 18, 2026
Jones Responds With a Warning
Jones acknowledged Pereira’s message and made his stance clear by referencing past battles. In his response, Jones said:
“I beat a lot of legends from your country, my friend.” He continued, “I know you’d love to avenge the boys, but you’d be a good one to add to my list.” He closed his remarks with a cautionary note, stating, “Be careful what you wish for.”
Jon Jones responds to Alex Pereira’s callout 👀
“I’ve beat a lot of legends from your country. You’d be a good one to add to my list. Be careful what you wish for.” 😳
(via @JonnyBones) pic.twitter.com/C7esSV4kQg
— Championship Rounds (@ChampRDS) January 18, 2026
Both fighters have publicly expressed interest in competing at the UFC event rumored for June 14 in Washington, D.C. Despite that interest, UFC president Dana White has voiced doubts about whether Jones will be part of the card.
White’s skepticism traces back to Jones stepping away from competition in June 2025 after backing out of a planned fight with Tom Aspinall. Since then, White has consistently questioned Jones’ reliability for a high profile event.
Even so, White has acknowledged the appeal of a matchup between Jones and Pereira. During a recent interview, White said:
“At 205lbs? That would be a fight.” He followed that by asking, “But can I count on Jon Jones?” before adding, “Can’t have Jon Jones doing something bad or pulling out of the f—ing White House fight.”
No official announcement has been made regarding either fighter. For now, the exchange has added another layer of intrigue to an already closely watched situation surrounding the proposed event.
