Alex Pereira won’t wait for Tom Aspinall if he wins interim title at UFC Freedom 250

Alex Pereira is prepared to move on quickly if he captures the interim heavyweight title at UFC Freedom 250 on Sunday, unwilling to wait for Tom Aspinall's recovery from surgery. Aspinall has been sidelined since his title defense against Ciryl Gane ended in a no contest following an inadvertent eye poke, with reports suggesting he may require additional procedures. At 38 years old, Pereira emphasized his urgency to compete, telling UFC on TNT Sports: "I don't think that Tom is going to be ready. I don't think he's even training. I think it's about recovering from the surgery. I'm a guy that, I want to get ready, I want to fight somebody as soon as possible. I want another fight as soon as possible. Again, I'm 38 years old, I ain't got time to lose."

While an interim title holder typically awaits a unification bout with the undisputed champion, the UFC has precedent for defending an interim belt instead. Tom Aspinall himself held and defended an interim heavyweight title against Curtis Blaydes when negotiations with Jon Jones stalled, later becoming undisputed champion when Jones retired. UFC Freedom 250 takes place June 14 on the south lawn of the White House in Washington, D.C. The event's main card features a lightweight title unification match between Ilia Topuria and Justin Gaethje, with Pereira versus Gane fighting for the interim heavyweight crown in the co-main event. Pereira's stance signals his preference for an active schedule over waiting for Aspinall to complete his recovery, a position that could reshape the heavyweight title picture depending on Sunday's outcome.