UFC fighter Alex Pereira had a message for fellow fighter Jon Jones and his family following the death of Jones’ late brother, Arthur Jones.
“I had a whole speech prepared tonight, and I talked to my team. But we got some news recently. Some things happened,” Pereira said through an interpreter in a post-match interview with Joe Rogan on Saturday, October 4, following his win against Magomed Ankalaev. “So, I want to give my respect to Jon Jones and his whole family, and I want to ask everyone here and everyone at home to take a moment of silence for his brother.”
Arthur died on Friday, October 3, at the age of 39. The former athlete played seven seasons in the NFL, from 2010-2017, and won Super Bowl XLVII with the Baltimore Ravens in 2013. He was found dead at his home in Pompey, NY after his defibrillator went off on Friday.
His brother Jon, a former UFC Heavyweight Champion and Arthur’s younger brother, responded to Pereira’s post-fight statement with a post on his X account on Saturday.
“Wow Alex,” Jones said in his post on X.
Pereira’s statement was followed by a brief moment of silence from the crowd at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, before Pereira celebrated his light heavyweight championship victory.
Pereira reclaimed his title at UFC 320 on Saturday with an 80-second knockout of Ankalaev, a rematch of their match at UFC 313 in March where Ankalaev defeated Pereira in a five-round battle.
During the ramp up to Saturday’s rematch, Pereira’s team told the media he fought in that March fight while dealing with injuries and was operating at about 40 percent.
“Vengeance is never a good thing; it’s kind of a poison sometimes,” Pereira said to ESPN on Saturday through an interpreter. “I told everyone I was not in a good condition last time. Everyone saw that tonight.”
The sports community joined Pereira in mourning the late Arthur Jones over the weekend, with former teammates and other MMA fighters chiming in on social media.
“RIP to my brother Arthur Jones,” wrote former Ravens teammate Torey Smith on his X account on Saturday. “Yesterday was shocking and another reminder that life is short. We lost a great man and father.”
Smith and Arthur played together on the Super Bowl XLVII championship Ravens team.
MMA fighter Conor McGregor also posted his statement on X on Friday.
“Very sad to hear this news, Arthur was a great man, a friendly giant,” McGregor said in his post. “God speed Arthur Jones.”
New details have emerged in the case of former NFL quarterback and current FOX Sports analyst Mark Sanchez, who was stabbed on Saturday, October 4, then later arrested by the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police while recovering in the hospital. On Sunday, October 5, Sanchez was charged by Marion County prosecutors for his alleged role in the […]
Former NFL defensive back Darius Butler, who played with Arthur on the Indianapolis Colts in 2016, also posted on X on Friday.
“Rest in peace big fella!” Butler said. “I’m going to miss our random check ins and laughs about who knows what. Arthur Jones you will be MISSED.”
Arthur was drafted by the Ravens in 2010 and played in 64 NFL games throughout his seven-year career, recording 99 tackles, two forced fumbles and 10 sacks, including a sack in the Super Bowl XLVII victory.
