Alex Pereira may have unintentionally inserted himself into the UFC heavyweight title conversation and has now cleared up his imminent plans.

The UFC‘s saga involving Jon Jones and Tom Aspinall has continued on now for several months, but has now seemingly reached its culmination.

Earlier this week, Jones admitted that he is not excited by a fight against Aspinall, heavily hinting that he will not fight the interim champion after months of delaying negotiations.

And with that, UFC boss Dana White admitted that he will move on from the potential fight, despite attempting to guarantee fans for months that the fight would happen.

With Aspinall now looking for another dance partner, former UFC light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira recently shared an astonishing weight update, unintentionally adding himself to the saga.

Alex Pereira provides response to UFC heavyweight title fight rumors

Since losing his 205lb title against Magomed Ankalaev at UFC 313 earlier this year, it seemed guaranteed that he would fight him in an immediate rematch.

Despite that, Ankalaev claimed that the Brazilian wouldn’t return to the sport as negotiations seemed to stall between the two.

And then once ‘Poatan’ updated fans on his current weight, which is over 240lbs, fans suggested that Pereira may end up fighting Aspinall next for the undisputed heavyweight title.

However, in an attempt to clear up any claims, Pereira has recently provided his fans with another update, stating that he will be fighting the Russian next regardless of whether a heavyweight move is on the horizon.

“Well, anywhere around the timeframe of September, October or November for me, it makes no difference, I just want to fight,” Pereira told MMAFighting.

“My focus right now is on fighting Ankalaev, fight that one in the division, get my belt back and then we’ll see what happens after.

“I have nothing to say to be honest with you, if I was able to fight at heavyweight right now (I’d say something), let these guys kill each other in that weight class right now and I’ll focus on light heavyweight,” he continued.

Alex Pereira has talked about a move up to heavyweight previously

Now would seem to be a perfect time for ‘Poatan’ to move up to heavyweight in an attempt to make UFC history, however, he wants redemption over Ankalaev first.

With fans missing out on Jones vs Aspinall, the next best thing would seemingly be Aspinall vs Pereira, in a fight both fighters have previously talked about.

If the Brazilian successfully reclaims his title against the Russian champion, a move up to heavyweight could come soon after.

LOS ANGELES – Associate head coach Shannon LeBeauf and her husband, Sean LeBeauf, will be joining the Rutgers University Women’s Basketball coaching staff ahead of the 2025-26 season, the program announced Friday.
 
“I am struggling to put into words how much Shannon has meant to me personally and to this program,” said The Michael Price Family UCLA Women’s Head Basketball Coach Cori Close. “She has served out her calling in the most professional, selfless, and impactful way. Tears well up in my eyes as I think about this transition, but I am in complete support of this next step for her and Sean. She is making the very courageous decision to go coach with her husband.  I completely respect this priority decision and she will always be a welcomed member of the Bruins family. We will miss her very much and we will honor her service here by continuing to build on the foundation of excellence she has been instrumental in building. Love you Shannon!”
 
LeBeauf served on Close’s staff since the Bruin head coach took the helm in 2011. She was promoted to associate head coach prior to the 2019-20 campaign, also serving as the program’s recruiting coordinator. LeBeauf helped bring in UCLA’s first-ever No. 1-ranked recruiting class in 2014-15. The class included Recee’ Caldwell, Jordin Canada, Monique Billings, Lajahna Drummer and Kelli Hayes.
 
“I’m feeling a wave of emotions right now,” said LeBeauf. “UCLA has been home for 14 years, and I’m so proud of what we’ve built together. I’ve grown here—not just as a coach, but as a person. I’m deeply grateful to Coach Cori, who’s been an incredible leader and a true friend. I’ve worked with amazing people and coached remarkable young women who have left a lasting mark on my heart.
 
While it’s hard to say goodbye, I’m genuinely excited about what’s ahead. Coach Co has invited me into something meaningful at Rutgers—a chance to mentor, lead, and help re-establish a championship mindset and culture. I’m honored by the opportunity and ready to get to work.”
 
In 2021-22, she was able to secure another No. 1 ranking for UCLA; the Bruins’ recruiting class of Kiki Rice, Gabriela Jaquez, Londynn Jones, Christeen Iwuala and Lina Sontag ranked first nationally. In conjunction with the UCLA coaching staff, she helped establish the “Leaders In Training” mentorship program for women’s basketball student-athletes. Before returning to Los Angeles, she coached at Duke for five seasons (2004-09). LeBeauf was also an assistant at USC from 2000-04 and Iowa from 1999-2000.
 
LeBeauf graduated in 1998 from the University of Iowa with a Bachelor of Arts in journalism and communication studies, where she graduated with honors. She was a four-year letterwinner at Iowa from 1995-98 and was regarded as the team’s leading defensive player throughout that time. She led the Hawkeyes to the 1997 Big Ten Tournament title, as well as regular season titles in 1996 and 1998. Her teams advanced to the NCAA Tournament her final three seasons and made a trip to the Sweet 16 in 1996. Additionally, she was a three-time All-Big Ten Academic selection and received the 1998 Robin Roberts/WBCA Sports Communication Scholarship award and the 1998 NCAA Women’s Enhancement Post-Graduate Scholarship award.
 
A Southern California native, LeBeauf played basketball and volleyball at Cerritos High School.
 

Dylan Lopez can kick it with the pros.

Long Island’s newest soccer team, the Fighting Tomcats, has signed the 16-year-old, a soon-to-be Connetquot High School senior varsity star, as the start-up squad’s youngest player.

“They’re obviously much older than me,” Lopez told The Post minutes after inking his deal with the National Premier Soccer League squad that calls Hofstra University home.

“I think just playing with them in this environment is really going to push me and just get used to a higher level,” added the midfielder, who dreams of taking his talents to Spain one day.

The Ronkonkoma native’s deep desire is exactly what the club’s owner — Massapequa soccer legend Jim Kilmeade, the brother of Fox News host Brian Kilmeade, who is also an investor — is shooting for with the new team of 30 that’s almost entirely local.

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“We believe that we can identify and launch players into European careers,” Jim said, adding that the Tomcats are also developing a free youth academy on Long Island.

Lopez gets the best of both worlds with his deal that has no compensation.

Playing with the Tomcats, formally called the American Soccer Club, won’t prohibit him from playing with his competitive Atlantic United travel team, or Connetquot next fall.

Long Island’s newest soccer team, the Fighting Tomcats, has signed 16-year-old Dylan Lopez. Photo courtesy of Dylan Lopez

“When you live on Long Island, you don’t really get opportunities like these,” Lopez said. “It’s usually those people in Europe that get these chances.”

Now, the teen being recruited by Sacred Heart University has the chance to show what he’s made of on a grander stage.

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The moment is a dream come true for his mom and twin brother, Brandon, with whom Lopez has played his entire life.

“He’s always been there,” Lopez said of his sibling, who is one minute younger. “Every time we’re on the field, it’s always a competition between us. And we just keep pushing each other — going back and forth. It’s really helped me … and he’s super excited for me.”

Bragging rights among family — and friends — are full-time for the food runner at Stella Trattoria in Blue Point, who had to call out of work when he got the good news.

“They’re all going to be shocked,” Lopez said. “It’s going to be a good senior year.”

Put your best foot forward as the sun is finally expected to shine this weekend, with two 5K runs that go for great causes.

The “Hope Is Here” run, which raises money for parental mental health awareness, kicks off at 9 a.m. Saturday at First Responders Memorial Park and Ball Field in Islandia, with a registration fee of $45.

The Sayville Fire Department is also hosting its annual 5K at the same time, with a registration fee of $40, starting at the town’s firehouse.

College basketball coaches around the country have been attending events around the country the last six weeks, scouting recruits mainly in the 2026 and 2027 classes.

2026 recruits are starting to lock in official visits over the coming months as they are set to begin their senior years. Many of these visits will take place later this summer and into fall before the high school basketball season starts.

One visit BYU has locked in is talented 2026 Guard Austin Goosby. Sources close to Austin tell me that he has scheduled an official visit to BYU September 26-28. September is still a few months away, so we’ll see if that date gets adjusted as we move closer.

Austin is arguably the best LDS prospect in the country and is rated as the #30 overall recruit in the 2026 class according to 247 Sports. Austin lives in the Dallas area but has family on his mom’s side that lives in Utah. He has one cousin that is attending BYU and other on a mission after starting at BYU.

Austin took an unofficial visit to BYU the weekend of March 8 and attended the BYU-Utah game in the Marriott Center. I spoke with his dad after that visit.

“Kevin Young is a basketball genius; it’s a whole other level of intelligence.” Austin’s dad told me after the visit. “We were blown away by Coach Young and BYU.”

Austin has offers from all over. Duke offered him this past week, and he also has offers from Texas, Kansas, Baylor, Texas A&M, UCLA, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Miami, Florida State, Kansas State, and others.

Texas should be right at or near the top of Austin’s list during his recruitment. Austin’s brother, Trevor, is an offensive lineman on the football team and the family is a UT family.

Austin is one of the top priorities for BYU this class. Kevin Young has been in consistent communication with Austin, and BYU established themselves as a real player in Austin’s recruitment after Austin’s visit back in May.

You can watch highlights of Austin below. Austin is a talented scoring wing that can really get to the basket and knockdown outside shots. He projects as a NBA player and would likely be in school for multiple seasons.

Former champ meets former title challenger. That’s the main event of UFC Baku this Saturday, where Jamahal Hill, the promotion’s former light heavyweight champ, meets Khalil Rountree Jr., a recent title challenger.

Hill and Rountree have been booked twice before, at UFC 303 last year, then again this past April. It seems the third time’s the charm, and Hill has certainly had time to think about what he’ll see in the octagon this Saturday.

“I’m expecting a hard fight. I’m expecting him to come with everything. He wants to get back in there, fight for another championship,” said Hill (12-3, 1NC) during this week’s media day, noting that Rountree “fell just short” in his title fight against Alex Pereira last year. “I can only imagine the type of fuel that gives you. So I’m expecting him to come with everything.”

Asked where a win over Rountree would put him in a division currently headed up by Magomed Ankalaev, Hill dismissed the question. “I’m not really concerned with that right now. My only concern right now is just making sure I get the win.”

Truth be told, Jamahill Hill is fighting down the rankings on Saturday, if only because of a lack of options. He enters the UFC‘s debut in Azerbaijan off a loss to ex-champ Jiri Prochazka, the #2-ranked light heavyweight, and has already been turned back by fellow ex-champ Alex Pereira, who sits ranked #1. With Hill at #4, the only name ahead of him outside of the champ is Carlos Ulberg, who would almost certainly have the next title shot were a rematch between Ankalaev and Pereira not still a possibility.

Hill later addressed comments by Khalil Rountree Jr. saying he wasn’t expecting to be bloodied in the fight. “If he’s not expecting to have any blood, then he’s not really ready for war. He don’t really understand what’s in front of him. He can expect that but when I open his face up and he starts to see it, we’re gonna see what he does and how he reacts then.”

“This guy gets hit more than he hits anybody. That’s literally a stat of his whole career. That’s a wild statement, that’s wild. But he’s said a lot of delusional things.” Hill believes Rountree is “hanging his hat” on lasting longer against Alex Pereira than Jamahal Hill himself. “We have other common opponents. One that I knocked out, one that knocked him out. So it’s like, it is what it is. Whatever he has to do to sleep at night, whatever he has to do to get himself up to fight and get in there, I’m good with it. It is what it is. He’s already made up a fake beef with himself. F*cking weirdo.”

Watch the full UFC Baku media day appearance by Jamahal Hill above.