Although Jon Jones still plans on competing at heavyweight, and Israel Adesanya is the reigning UFC middleweight champion, the New Zealander still expects an Israel Adesanya vs Jon Jones fight to happen…eventually.
Israel Adesanya vs Jon Jones is still on the middleweights mind
The mutual dislike between the middleweight king and the former light heavyweight demigod is no secret. That is what makes the fight so intriguing since the pound-for-pound talents were in parallel weight classes for all of Adesanya’s rise in the company. Currently, Jones is planning to make a jump to heavyweight, but that hasn’t changed the 32-year-olds expectation to face off with the American inside the Octagon eventually.
I see it. I see it 100 percent, Adesanya said on the “>MMA Hour of an eventual fight with Jones. But that’s the thing. You’ve got to know when to hold them, you’ve got to know when to fold them, and the song is not over yet. So stay tuned. We’ll fight one day. I don’t know where or how it’s going to happen. I just have an idea of what’s going to happen. But yeah, see if he moves up in weight first. See if he moves up in weight first and deals with these guys there. I think he can, but does he think he can?
Adesanya is skeptical of Jones at heavyweight happening
When it comes to Adesanya’s thoughts on Jones moving up to the 265 division, he actually doesn’t believe it will ever happen. “Bones” vacated the light heavyweight title over a year ago and has yet to compete in the Octagon as a heavyweight. Negotiations for a fight with Francis Nganno fell through months ago, and the New York native’s coach has spoken publicly on Jones’ disinterest in a fight with former two-time champion Stipe Miocic.
It’s no surprise then that Adesanya (21-1) is skeptical about the world actually seeing Jones compete in the heaviest weight class in the promotion.
I don’t think we’re ever going to see Jon Jones fight at heavyweight, he said. F*ck, he’s been saying this since 2013. You either get it done or you don’t. For me, I jumped up within three years of [being with] the company. I jumped into the division ahead of me. The guys up there respect me — even the champion up there gave me my props. So yeah, I just think it’s not something that anyone can do. And he’s getting fat for no reason now.
Adesanya’s jump up was a failed bid at the 205-pound title in March at UFC 259. On that night, he came up short against current champion Jan Blachowicz by unanimous decision. Following the first defeat of his MMA career, “The Last Stylebender” then defended his middleweight belt for the third time when he outclassed Marvin Vettori over five rounds in June at UFC 263.
Do you still pine for Israel Adesanya vs Jon Jones one day?
