Jon Jones predicts UFC 311 main event that features two former Alex Pereira rivals and gives huge update on next fight

Jon Jones has predicted the UFC 311 main event outcome and provided a fresh update on his next fight.

Jones retained his UFC heavyweight title against Stipe Miocic at Madison Square Garden, New York City, in November.

MMA fans remain insistent that the 37-year-old is avoiding a fight to unify the heavyweight division with Briton Tom Aspinall, who is the current 265 lbs interim champion.

Dana White’s promotion announced the UFC 311 main event in their post-fight show in Macau, China, on Saturday.

Former light heavyweight champions Jiri Prochazka and Jamahal Hill will square off at the Los Angeles card in January.

Alex Pereira is the current UFC light heavyweight champion and defended his belt against both Hill and Prochazka this year in what has been a record-breaking 2024 for the Brazilian.

“I think Jamahal Hill will win,” said Jones, speaking to MMA journalist .

“Jiri has really unorthodox striking, but Jamahal seems like the more technical, more clean striker. I'm a big fan of basic techniques and Jamahal has a really strong basic clean kickboxing style.”

Jones made a ringside appearance for Dirty Boxing Championship’s inaugural event in Miami, Florida, on Saturday night.

The hybrid striking promotion was created by ex-UFC fighter Mike Perry before his boxing bout with Jake Paul in July.

Former UFC title fighter Yoel Romero took on Power Slap veteran Duane Crespo in Miami’s main event and made quick work of the heavyweight by blasting him out in the first round.

“It has [settled] in. It’s been awesome, something feels different about this win,” Jones added, speaking about his UFC 309 clash with Miocic, where he ended the fight with a spinning back kick to the body in the third round.

“I feel like the whole world’s just really excited about it. The UFC has just elevated [itself] into an even higher place. I feel I’m in the fight place, in the right time [and] I’m grateful for it all.”

In the aftermath of his victory at UFC 309, Jones continued to ignore the challenge of a fight with Aspinall and said he remains focused entirely on a potential huge showdown with light heavyweight king Pereira.

Aspinall has said numerous times that he wants to unify the heavyweight division in a mega-fight between him and Jones, but the latter has shown little interest.

“Right now, the UFC and I, we’re in negotiations,” Jones continued. “We’re in talks to see what happens next.

I’m back in the gym. I’m training. I feel really great. The team’s supporting me, they’re right behind me and we’ll just be ready for whatever happens when it comes our way.

“There is [the right price], but I’m not going to discuss that publicly. We just have to wait and see.

“Yes I will be competing in 2025, more than likely.”

A fight between Jones and Pereira would undoubtedly be one of the biggest UFC showdowns of all time. However, if Jones never faced Aspinall, it would leave a small blemish on his legacy.

In the UFC, champions are expected to fight interim titleholders when the scenario arises.

If Jones were to deviate from this standard and deny Aspinall the opportunity he himself once received, it would likely leave a sour taste in the mouths of many MMA fans.