Jon Jones apparently is amused by Israel Adesanya’s change of course when it comes to a highly anticipated potential spiteful game.
Adesanya (20-0 MMA, 9-0 UFC) said more than a year ago that his final plan is to meet Jones (26-1 MMA, 20-1 UFC) inside the octagon in July, preferably at the Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas in front of a potentially record crowd for “the biggest fight in UFC history”. This was said, however, well before the COVID-19 pandemic took over the world.
In preparation for UFC 259 on Saturday, where middleweight champion Adesanya will step up to light heavyweight to challenge Jan Blachowicz for his second belt, “The Last Stylebender” said that a confrontation with Jones in December now looks more likely, mainly because he thinks that the presence of a crowd is mandatory.
“Unfortunately, it may not be summer or July, but there is still December,” Adesanya told ESPN. “It could happen then. All I know is that this fight (against Jon Jones) needs a crowd. I cannot do this in an empty arena. “
Jones, who vacated the Adesanya title in July will challenge Blachowicz in his main fight at UFC Apex in Las Vegas, is on his way to a heavyweight debut this year. All signs point to him challenging the title fight winner on March 27 between Stipe Miocic and Francis Ngannou.
“Bones” has said several times that he is not so concerned about the fight against Adesanya and is certainly not pursuing it. But that doesn’t mean he still doesn’t like to mock his rival, which is exactly what happened when he heard Adesanya’s comments on their fight (via Twitter):
I think the energy of the cartoon will have its Wrestling and Jujitsu ready in December now
If the stars line up perfectly and Jones and Adesanya win their next fights, a fight in December can be realistic. For now, though, it looks like they will continue to shoot each other from a distance.