Morning report: Israel Adesanya ready to chase Jon Jones to heavyweight

UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya and UFC light heavyweight Jon Jones have been engaged in a public war of words for a year and a half since Adesanya won the title. average weights. What started as a mutual respect for each other quickly turned into a bitter feud, with Jones calling on Adesanya to move on and fight him and “The Last Stylebender” first saying he had to. defend his newly won title. Adesanya even suggested 2021 as the time when he would have cleaned up his division and could then progress. But these best-laid plans have apparently gone awry.

Earlier this week, Jon Jones declared his intention to quit the 205-pound title and move on to the heavyweight division. It was both a shocking turn of events and a long time in the eyes of fans who have been calling on Jones to move forward for years. It would also appear to end the possibility of a Jones-Adesanya fight next year. But don’t be so sure of that, because although there are now two weight classes between them, Jones is not out of Adesanya’s sights.

“One hundred percent. It doesn’t change my plans,” Adesanya said on the recent Virtual Media Day. “My plan is still going according to plan. So, yes, same thing.

“Look how long it took him to get to heavyweight, finally. Like I said, he expected me to do it right away, when I hadn’t even defended my belt yet. I have defended my belt twice now, I want to defend it a few more times and then do what I decided to do. But, yes, the pot calling the black kettle on his part. (TTT … TTT). Go put some fucking muscle on your chopsticks legs and go fight Francis Ngannou and watch him break you. I hope not, however. Maybe he does. Who knows?”

Jones is unlikely to face Ngannou in the near future, as UFC President Dana White has made it clear that Ngannou is Stipe Miocic’s next heavyweight title challenger. Depending on the outcome of this fight, Jones could face the winner, but that would be a good path going forward. Which actually works for Adesanya, as he still has some business to work out in the middleweight division, including his upcoming title fight with Paulo Costa at UFC 253.

Adesanya’s fight with Costa is significant in part because this is only the second time in UFC history that two undefeated male fighters will face each other for a belt. Perhaps more importantly, it gives Adesanya a chance to wash the bad taste out of the mouths of fans who were disappointed with his last title defense, a lackluster unanimous decision victory over Yoel Romero at UFC 248.

“It’s perfect,” Adesanya said. “What I expected from my last fight will happen this fight. Bro, you can’t understand. In my story, you just can’t make it go well and go well in the story. You need a dip, you need a valley when the going goes wrong, and that was me after the last fight, the performance brought in by Yoel Romero. He was dull. I have never been in a boring fight in my life. I have had all these criticisms, rightly or unfairly. It was a dive, and now it’s back up.

“What better antagonist than this guy, who was undefeated, a knockout artist, he looks like he does, bloated?” It’s like David and Goliath. I’m fucking this guy, and it’s spectacular. As they say: someone’s 0 must disappear. It’s a beautifully put together story. You can’t write this shit. You could, but it’s real.

As with Jones, Adesanya was engaged in a heated war of words with Costa. The hope for the fans is that their animosity will lead to a more exciting fight than the last time for “The Last Stylebender” and while Adesanya sees a much more exciting fight, that doesn’t mean he thinks it will be particularly close. .

“I think a performance of the year, a shutout of the year, maybe a save of the year,” said Adesanya. “‘Fight of the year?’ I have had this in my back pocket before but if it happens again I don’t think it will just happen because of the situation. You have to be smart enough to set it up. This guy gassed after the first round. We have five rounds. Watch me in all my fights in the fifth round, the fourth round, the third round, the later rounds – I’m always fresh. So, yes, precision will be the key to this fight. Precision, competence and take it out one by one.

UFC 253 takes place on September 26 at a location to be determined.

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Contender Series. Brothers Cosce, Cheyanne Buys and Josh Parisian win contracts at DWCS Season 4: Week 3.

Title fight. Dana White: Dominick Reyes v Jan Blachowicz is ready for the UFC 253 light heavyweight title after Jon Jones leaves.

Come back. Anthony ‘Rumble’ Johnson explains his return to the UFC after battling fighters returning from retirement.

JDS. Junior dos Santos is considering “ going through a strange moment ” in his career after a third consecutive defeat with KO.

Bet. Michael Chandler encourages fighters to explore free will: “More guys have to bet on themselves.”

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Robbery of the year.

UFC 252 Fight Motion.

Road to Bellator 244.

Daniel Cormier’s last dance.

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The Bash. Interviews with Petr Yan and Paddy Pimblett.

Past fights. Discussing the late Daniel Cormier and Jon Jones at heavyweight.

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Beef.

Likely?

They will fight.

Lol.

Additionally, Jon explains why he is leaving the title.

Call out.

Khabib berating DC for revealing secrets.

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Diego Sanchez (30-12) c. Jake matthews (16-4); UFC 253, September 26.

Shane Young (13-4) c. Nate landwehr (14-3); UFC 253, September 26.

Brad riddell (8-1) against Alex da Silva (21-2); UFC 253, September 26.

Brian ortega (14-1) vs. Chan Sung Jung (16-5); UFC Fight Night, October 17.

Derrick lewis (24-7) c. Curtis Blaydes (14-2); UFC Fight Night, November 28.

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Thanks for reading and see you tomorrow.

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