Big news for fight fans: Jon Jones might be stepping back into the octagon sooner than we thought! UFC boss Dana White dropped some exciting hints this week about Jones defending his heavyweight title after dominating Stipe Miocic last November. While Jones has been playing it coy about his next move, White’s got his sights set on a blockbuster title unification fight against interim champ Tom Aspinall.

White spilled the details on The Jim Rome Show, saying, “The plan is to fight Jon this summer.” Exact dates and locations are still up in the air, but White’s determined to make this matchup happen in 2025. It’s a fight that’s got fans buzzing, and honestly, it’s hard to argue with his focus—Jones vs. Aspinall feels like the clash we’ve all been waiting for.

But there’s a potential curveball coming this weekend at UFC 313. Alex Pereira’s defending his light heavyweight strap against Magomed Ankalaev, and a win could shake things up. Pereira’s already on a tear with three straight title defenses at 205 pounds, and he’s running out of fresh challenges in that division. Naturally, he’s got his eyes on heavyweight—and maybe even Jon Jones himself.

Here’s the twist: White’s actually the one pumping the brakes on Pereira jumping up a weight class. “This guy wants to go up to heavyweight and fight there, too,” White said. “I’m the one that’s actually holding him back on that.” It’s not hard to see why—White’s laser-focused on locking in Jones vs. Aspinall first. But he’s not totally shutting the door on Pereira making a splash at heavyweight down the line.

If Pereira steamrolls Ankalaev this weekend, the chatter about his next move will only get louder. White’s already teasing the possibilities: “He wants to [fight Jon Jones]. Let’s see how this fight plays out, if he wins, how he wins, all that kind of stuff.” Picture this—Jones vs. Aspinall in the summer, then Pereira stepping up to challenge the winner? That’s the kind of dream scenario that keeps us glued to the sport.

For now, all eyes are on UFC 313 and White’s master plan for 2025. What do you think—should Pereira get his shot at heavyweight, or is Jones vs. Aspinall the only fight that matters right now? Drop your thoughts below!