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This is the 3rdd edition of the Weekly Rounds, where I will give some thoughts on some topics around the world of MMA. The opinions are all mine, would love a good debate!

By: Will Brewer 

Ok. Glove touch. HERE. WE. GO!

Round 1: Jon Jones vs. Alex Pereira at the White House?! 

Alex Periera made a big splash last week when he vacated his Light Heavyweight Championship and announced he is moving up to the heavyweight division. The announcement came days after a video emerged of Periera stepping on a scale and weighing 242 pounds, which started the speculation of him moving up. He has not fought since regaining the title after defeating Magomed Ankalaev at UFC 320 in October.

Periera’s addition could not have come at a better time for the heavyweight division, because things got much interesting with Poatan’s addition. The Heavyweight Champion Tom Aspinall is currently on the injured list, which leaves two possible opponents for Poatan’s heavyweight debut. It could either be Ciryl Gane for the interim title or Jon Jones at the White House.

The White House needs a blockbuster main event, and it doesn’t get any better than Jon Jones facing off with Alex Periera. The greatest fighter of all-time against a former two-division champion, there’s no need for a build. Dana White has said that Jon Jones would not be on the White House card because he needs people that he can ‘depend on.’ However, this main event is too big to pass on, and the UFC is also running out of options for a main event. Recently, Jones said that he is in negotiations with the UFC for the White House event. Jones-Periera would be a monumental fight to put at the White House.

Now my question is, I wonder if the Jones-Periera would be for the UFC Heavyweight Championship? I do not believe that Aspinall should be stripped, we know he is dealing with a legitimate injury. We also saw Aspinall have to wait for a year as an interim champion because Jones wouldn’t fight him. However, this is the one-in-a-lifetime White House event. The hardcore fans would know the stakes of Jones-Periera, but would the casual fans really understand? I think the Heavyweight title needs to be attached to make the fight as big as it can possibly be. It could potentially be the biggest fight in UFC history.

Round 2: Conor McGregor’s next fight

Kohjiro Kinno, Sports Illustrated/Getty Images

We knew that Conor McGregor has been in talks with the UFC for a potential fight at the White House, but now it looks like Conor at the White House is becoming less of a possibility. The UFC is going to put an epic event in June on the White House lawn, but with that comes an expensive tab. McGregor is a guy who makes much of his UFC money through the gates and pay-per-view buys. The White House event is a one-of-a-kind event, and it does not seem to line up with his expectations financially.

International Fight Week is scheduled to be the following month in July, and that will have more familiarity with McGregor. The White House event is going to be a huge event with big names and title fights. McGregor as the headliner for International Fight Week makes all the sense in the world and takes pressure off the UFC in that aspect.

McGregor’s opponent is the biggest question in my opinion. In 2024, McGregor was to make his return against Michael Chandler, but the bout was scrapped due to a toe injury. I think this is the fight to make for Conor. The fight itself would be exciting, the build could be fun, and it wouldn’t be giving Conor too much too soon. However, Dana White has recently said that McGregor/Chandler is not happening. So, who does McGregor fight?

I think the clear way to go here is to put Conor against the winner of this weekend’s BMF title fight, Max Holloway or Charles Oliveira. Max and Charles both are big fan favorites and they are considered superstars. In terms of name value, it does not get much better right now outside of those two. The BMF title would be on the line, so it gives Conor another ‘title’ to pursue. Conor vs. either guy would be fireworks, and would be a perfect international fight week main event.

Round 3: UFC 326 preview 

Max Holloway and Charles Oliveira are two of the biggest names in the UFC. They also have been involved in some of the biggest moments and best fights in UFC history. They represent everything that BMF stands for.

Holloway holds the record for significant strikes with 3,378, landed 445 in a single fight, most wins, finishes, and knockouts in featherweight history. Holloway also has the record for total strikes in the UFC with 3,907, he is also the reigning BMF champion and former UFC Featherweight Champion. Oliveira is a former UFC Lightweight Champion, he holds the record for most submission wins (17), most finishes (21), and most post-fight bonuses (21).

The pair fought once before in a main event in 2015, Holloway won the fight via TKO after Oliveira suffered an injury. Since then, these guys have went on to have hall-of- fame careers and now is the right time for these legends to run it back. Holloway has moved up to lightweight full-time and has victories over Dustin Poirier and Justin Gaethje. Oliveira is coming off a statement win over Mateusz Gamrot.

I expect this fight to be very fun from the get to. Oliveira likes to get right in his opponent’s face early on and Max likes to build throughout the fight. It will be very interesting to see how Max deals with the pressure from Oliveira. Also, Max has shown to have added power in his hands since his move up to lightweight. Will Charles be able to withstand the barrage of punches coming from Max? There are so many scenarios on how this fight may play out, but I expect this one to be a war. Then, there is the potential Conor McGregor fight for the winner. I think the winner of this fight will get a fight with McGregor in July for International Fight Week.

Also, on the main card at UFC 326 is a ranked middleweight showdown seeing Caio Borralho against Reiner de Ridder in the co-main event.  The featured bout sees 20-year phenom Raul Rosas Jr. returning to face the experienced veteran Rob Font in a bantamweight matchup. Two of the UFC’s most battle-tested lightweights will engage in a potential fight of the night war as Michael Johnson faces Drew Dober. The main card begins with a rematch between hard-hitting middleweights Gregory Rodrigues and Bruno Ferreira. UFC 326 takes place at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas this Saturday. Also, streaming on Paramount + and the last hour of the prelims and first hour of the main card will be available live on CBS.

THANK YOU FOR READING!

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