Mostly when fighters talk about each other, they don’t have many positive words. However, Jon Jones and Israel Adesanya recently had a rare exchange. Continue reading to discover what brought this on and what they had to say!
Despite different weight divisions, heavyweight champion Jones and UFC middleweight champion Adesanya seemed headed for a collision. The two have exchanged heated words previously while Jones was in the lightweight division. However, a fight never came close to happening.
But it seems like neither man is still holding onto their old grudge. Despite his reluctance to admit it, Jones considers Israel Adesanya his favorite fighter in the UFC. Although they are not friends, Jones acknowledges that Adesanya is the most entertaining individual in the organization presently. He specifically highlighted the captivating saga between Adesanya and Alex Pereira as one of the most engrossing storylines he has witnessed in the UFC. Adesanya struggled to believe the remark when it was read to him, but he eventually came around.
He also shared his views about Jones in a recent talk. Adesanya stated that growth is an essential part of being a human being, particularly for men. He also emphasized the importance of maturity. He then reflected on his early days in the UFC and suggested that initially, he felt Jones viewed him as a fan or someone new to the sport. However, Adesanya believed that Jones might have perceived him as a threat, someone who could potentially overshadow him in the game and steal the spotlight.
Adesanya implied that it was up to Jones to acknowledge this sentiment. He also suggested that he himself had experienced personal growth and maturity throughout his journey. Fortunately, their dynamics have changed for the better now. Adesanya said that he had long been a fan of Jones. Moreover, it was “Bones” who instigated their dispute. However, The Stylebender has put it all behind him now.
Adesanya expressed his admiration for Jon Jones, recalling how he became a fan after watching Jones’ fight against Stephan Bonnar at UFC 94. Adesanya found it puzzling when Jones expressed interest in fighting him. This was because of the weight class difference since Adesanya is a middleweight. This sparked a back-and-forth between them, leading to some tension over the years. Adesanya mentioned that there was a point where the fight could have happened, possibly after his fight against Paulo Costa. However, various factors, such as scheduling and COVID-19, interfered.
Eventually, Adesanya ended up facing Jan Blachowicz instead. He concluded by acknowledging that he respects Jones as a fellow fighter, using the phrase “real recognize real.”
So, what do you think of this rare positive moment between two UCFC fighters? Comment your opinions below!
