Dana White: After UFC 309 ‘there’s no fucking way’ we book Jon Jones vs. Alex Pereira

Jon Jones performed so dominantly at UFC 309 that he may have fought his way out of the matchup he really wanted next.

In his first defense as heavyweight champion, Jones dismantled Stipe Miocic over three rounds before ending the fight with a vicious back kick to the body. Jones beat Miocic on every level from grappling to striking, and it was another complete performance from a fighter many consider to be the greatest of all time.

Watching Jones go through Miocic in such a lopsided fashion also convinced UFC CEO Dana White not to even begin to entertain a potential matchup pitting Jones against current light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira. It’s the fight Jones wants the most, but White clearly doesn’t agree.

“You know what tonight told me? There’s no fucking way I can do the Pereira fight,” White said at the UFC 309 post-fight press conference. “Jon’s too big.

“(Jon is a) great wrestler. Did you see how he took Stipe down in the first round? I like Alex Pereira. I like him personally. It just doesn’t make sense to do that fight.”

White was already adamant ahead of UFC 309 that he has no real desire to book Jones against Pereira despite interest from both athletes in making the superfight happen in the future.

At one point, White went so far as to say he would grant Jones’ request to fight Pereira only if “Bones” faced and defeated interim heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall next. This time, White didn’t bring up Aspinall when talking about the potential matchup between Jones and Pereira, but his sentiments apparently remain the same.

That said, White believes the only way he could be convinced to change his mind would be if Jones and Pereira absolutely insist on fighting each other, and then he might be forced to pull the trigger .

He just didn’t want to feel good about it.

“If they both want it bad enough and they both freak out chase me or something, I might do it,” White said. “But Alex Pereira is just killing it. Look at his age and what he’s doing right now, what’s the reason to go up and fight a guy that’s so much bigger than you and such a good wrestler? Money? That’s definitely a reason, but just so we’re clear, I don’t want to make any of that kind of money. I want Pereira to stay where he is and drive the streets .

“But again, if they go crazy on me and they want to do, what am I going to do? They’re grown ass men and I’m sure the fans will see that, I’m sure you’ll see that, I think we’re talking about it.”