Israel Adesanya Hints At Possible Superfight With Jon Jones

Israel Adesanya is one of the UFC’s most promising young stars at the moment.

“Stylebender” will compete against Kelvin Gastelum for the interim 185-pound title in the co-main event of UFC 236. Speaking to Submission Radio recently, however, the Nigerian striker was asked about a possible future superfight with light heavyweight king Jon Jones.

Unlike the long-discussed superfight between Jones and Anderson Silva that never was, Adesanya thinks a fight between himself and “Bones” will actually happen (via MMA Mania):

“Jones and Silva have spoken about fighting each other for years as well, but that never came to fruition,” Adesanya said. “This I feel is different. So yeah, I look forward to that challenge as well.”

During fight week at UFC 235 before his title defense against Anthony Smith, Jones acknowledged he’d likely one day share the Octagon with Adesanya. “Stylebender” believes Jones is one of the “smart ones” taking notice of his rise to the top:

“That shows you how serious they’re taking me, the smart ones, how much they know I’m a threat, how serious they’re taking me.”

“Like, [Jones] mentioned it on fight week of 235 or whatever, and then I went back two weeks prior on messages with Eugene when I put the question out there, how are we going to beat Jon Jones? And he kind of just laid down the rough blueprint. And I blurred a lot of it out, but yeah, we’re focusing on Gastelum.”