UFC fighter Alex Pereira had a message for fellow fighter Jon Jones and his household following the demise of Jones’ late brother, Arthur Jones.
“I had a complete speech ready tonight, and I talked to my workforce. However we received some information lately. Some issues occurred,” Pereira stated by way of an interpreter in a post-match interview with Joe Rogan on Saturday, October 4, following his win towards Magomed Ankalaev. “So, I need to give my respect to Jon Jones and his entire household, and I need to ask everybody right here and everybody at residence to take a second of silence for his brother.”
Arthur died on Friday, October 3, on the age of 39. The previous athlete performed seven seasons within the NFL, from 2010-2017, and gained Tremendous Bowl XLVII with the Baltimore Ravens in 2013. He was discovered useless at his residence in Pompey, NY after his defibrillator went off on Friday.
His brother Jon, a former UFC Heavyweight Champion and Arthur’s youthful brother, responded to Pereira’s post-fight assertion with a submit on his X account on Saturday.
“Wow Alex,” Jones stated in his submit on X.
Pereira’s assertion was adopted by a quick second of silence from the group at T-Cell Enviornment in Las Vegas, Nevada, earlier than Pereira celebrated his gentle 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 the place Ankalaev defeated Pereira in a five-round battle.
Through the ramp as much as Saturday’s rematch, Pereira’s workforce informed the media he fought in that March battle whereas coping with accidents and was working at about 40 p.c.
“Vengeance isn’t a superb factor; it’s type of a poison typically,” Pereira stated to ESPN on Saturday by way of an interpreter. “I informed everybody I used to be not in a superb situation final time. Everybody noticed that tonight.”
The sports activities group joined Pereira in mourning the late Arthur Jones over the weekend, with former teammates and different 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 stunning and one other reminder that life is brief. We misplaced an ideal man and father.”
Smith and Arthur performed collectively on the Tremendous Bowl XLVII championship Ravens workforce.
MMA fighter Conor McGregor additionally posted his assertion on X on Friday.
“Very unhappy to listen to this information, Arthur was an ideal man, a pleasant large,” McGregor stated in his submit. “God velocity Arthur Jones.”
Former NFL defensive again Darius Butler, who performed with Arthur on the Indianapolis Colts in 2016, additionally posted on X on Friday.
“Relaxation in peace huge fella!” Butler stated. “I’m going to overlook our random test ins and laughs about who is aware of what. Arthur Jones you’ll be MISSED.”
Arthur was drafted by the Ravens in 2010 and performed in 64 NFL video games all through his seven-year profession, recording 99 tackles, two compelled fumbles and 10 sacks, together with a sack within the Tremendous Bowl XLVII victory.