Pereira says he has stopped chasing Jon Jones fight, wants things to unfold naturally

Alex Pereira has walked back his pursuit of a super-fight with Jon Jones, saying he is no longer chasing the matchup and prefers to let events take their natural course.

Pereira, 38, currently holds the UFC light heavyweight championship with a professional record of 13-4-0. The Brazilian out of Teixeira MMA and Fitness has been one of the most active and feared strikers in the sport, landing 5.16 significant strikes per minute at a 62 percent accuracy rate. Standing six-foot-four with a 79-inch reach, he has dominated the 205-pound division and previously made no secret of his desire to test himself against Jones.

Jones, also 38, carries a 28-1-0 record and has long been regarded as a towering presence at heavyweight. The orthodox fighter stands six-foot-four with an exceptional 84-inch reach, landing 4.38 significant strikes per minute at 58 percent accuracy while also averaging 1.89 takedowns per 15 minutes — a well-rounded threat on both feet and on the mat.

In a recent interview, Pereira indicated that while the Jones fight once captured his imagination, his mindset has shifted. He described it as a bout he once found compelling but said he is now comfortable allowing the situation to develop on its own terms rather than actively pushing for it.

Why it matters

• Pereira's change in stance removes one of the most discussed potential super-fights in recent UFC conversation
• Jones, a heavyweight, and Pereira, the reigning light heavyweight champion, would face natural divisional and logistical hurdles in any negotiation
• With Pereira's attention apparently redirected, the light heavyweight division's contender picture may come into sharper focus, with ranked heavyweights such as Ciryl Gane — 14-2-0, ranked second at heavyweight — unlikely to factor into that equation