A fight between UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones and New Zealand’s Israel Adesanya may seem crazy, but Jones believes it will eventually happen.
When asked by TMZ Sports about which young fighters to watch out for, Jones said that he believes he will eventually fight with the Kiwi.
“He’s only a middleweight but it does not take long to get up to light-heavyweight,” Jones said of a potential fight with Adesanya.
“As a light-heavyweight you get to eat a little bit more comfortably and not cut weight. I have a feeling that him and I will eventually fight each other.”
Jon Jones successfully won his 11th UFC light-heavyweight title fight on Sunday (AEDT) with a unanimous decision over Anthony Smith.
Many believe Jones is destined to go up a weight class to heavyweight, but Jones appears content to stay knocking off contenders at light-heavyweight for the time being.
A potential showdown with Adesanya would be some time off with the City Kickboxing fighter having plenty more work to do in the middleweight division.
After successfully winning five fights in the UFC over a one-year period, Adesanya will fight Kelvin Gastelum for the interim-middleweight title on April 14 (AEDT) in Atlanta at UFC 236.
Should Adesanya go on to defeat Gastelum, he will be lined up for a unification fight with current middleweight champion Rob Whittaker. If Adesanya can also win that one, in the current age of cross divisional superfights, a bout with Jones is not outside the realms of possibility.
“I think the fans will want that eventually and I would be excited for that challenge.’ Jones finished.
Eternal 41 Recap: Mitch Martin secures 4th consecutive title defence