Alex Pereira is already plotting what’s next in his combat sports legacy.

Fresh off reclaiming the UFC light heavyweight title this month in a rematch with Magomed Ankalaev, he’s setting his sights on a marquee showdown with Jon Jones — and sees a high-profile boxing bout as the next frontier.

Pereira has little interest in revisiting his rivalry with Ankalaev, despite their split decision fight earlier in 2025, suggesting instead that he places more weight on bouts that would bolster his already considerable legacy.

 “I always talked about this fight at heavyweight,” he said of Jones. “I wanted it, but then I said, ‘No, I’ll stay in my weight class.’ But then I said, ‘Damn, I’m 38 years old, you know? … I think this is the fight that needs to happen.”

He acknowledges both the risk and the reward in taking on Jones rather than current heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall, citing star power and legacy over rankings. Pereira isn’t rushing back to action either — he’s recovering from a broken foot and has no intention of returning before the Jones fight is ready.

Outside of MMA, Pereira sees boxing as a natural extension of his fighting journey.

“Definitely,” he said when asked if he’d step into the boxing ring next. “Look, I … want to fight boxing. … I don’t care. I just want to go out there and fight. … “I want to be the best.”

Pereira is the most recent addition to the UFC’s double champion club, having previously help the organisation’s 185-pound title.