Israel Adesanya and Jon Jones have engaged in a heated exchange of words on numerous occasions in recent years, creating a highly anticipated showdown in the light heavyweight division. Despite the anticipation, the much-awaited clash between the two fighters never came to fruition.
Nevertheless, there seems to be a glimmer of hope that the long-standing issues between Adesanya and Jones may finally be resolved.
Israel Adesanya sheds light on Jon Jones rivalry
In a recent interview with Ariel Helwani on The MMA Hour, Adesanya, also known as ‘The Last Stylebender,’ openly discussed the current state of his relationship with the enigmatic ‘Bones.’
“Yeah, we’ve beefed. I don’t like him, he doesn’t like me, but we respect each other’s skills. I was a fan before I was even in the UFC. He was the youngest UFC champion, did great things.
I followed his career then he called me out and I was like, ‘what the f**k, what did I do to you?’ and then same thing, I went back at him and we went back for a little bit on Twitter, which was fun, but the story’s not over.”
Israel Adesanya says "the story's not over" with Jon Jones. #TheMMAHour
“We’ve beefed, I don’t like him, he doesn’t like me, but we respect each other’s skills."
▶️ https://t.co/jB0erg7YAH pic.twitter.com/FwCL89Rhec
— MMA Fighting (@MMAFighting) June 12, 2023
Given Jon move to the heavyweight division and Adesanya’s decision to continue dominating the middleweight division, the chances of a showdown between the two champions seem increasingly slim. Nonetheless, it is evident that both fighters have managed to bury the hatchet and move past their previous conflicts.
Will Adesanya face Jon Jones again?
In a surprising turn of events, Jon recently made waves by publicly declaring that Israel is his favorite fighter within the UFC ranks. The enigmatic ‘Bones’ commended his once formidable foe for his impressive rebound against Pereira.
‘The Last Stylebender’ took the opportunity to respond to Jones’ admiration during a recent appearance on the popular IMPAULSIVE podcast, offering his thoughts on the accolades bestowed upon him by his former rival.
“There’s enough room for us to shine. We can be in our own lanes and be great. I’ve been a fan of Jon since I saw him at [UFC] 94… We had beef and for a few years, it was like that… but real recognize real, I’ll put it that way.”
Despite the ongoing speculation and teasing about a potential matchup, the prospects of a bout between Adesanya and Jones seem increasingly doubtful at this point. Both fighters are currently focused on different matters, eagerly awaiting confirmation of their respective title defenses, including information on the dates and opponents for their upcoming fights.
What are your thoughts regarding this? Let us know in the comment section below.
