Israel Adesanya expects to meet Jon Jones down the line whether it’s for the UFC light heavyweight title or not.
UFC middleweight champion Adesanya (19-0 MMA, 8-0 UFC), has been trading barbs with light heavyweight champion Jones (26-1 MMA, 20-1 UFC) in a rivalry that continues to brew.
But Adesanya has reiterated his plans of clearing out the middleweight division first before moving up to face Jones.
It’s a fight that his head coach, Eugene Bareman, is not fond of for specific reasons, but Adesanya sees the fight happening someday.
“It was something that wasn’t there till he uttered my name and I was like, ‘Hmm – I see what this is about,’” Adesanya told MMA Junkie. “I see where destiny is placing certain characters in my movie. So yeah, that fight is really important. I don’t need it, to be honest. My coach doesn’t think I need it. My coach would rather I just avoid that fight, not because we don’t want to fight Jones, but he feels – he said it before he got arrested last time – he said I’d rather give it to a guy like Stipe (Miocic).”
Bareman has not been shy on the way he feels about Jones, questioning his character for his continued legal woes.
And despite his coach needing convincing, Adesanya wants it, regardless if there are title implications or not.
“We’re not scared of anybody. Like, he’s going after Stipe. So it’s not that we don’t want the fight, it’s just that my coach feels like he’s a piece of (expletive),” Adesanya said. “And my coach is really old school. He doesn’t want to give this opportunity to fight me – the A-side – to a guy like Jones, a s**t c**t like Jones.
“It’s not really important for my legacy, but I want this fight and I’m going to get this fight – regardless of if he’s champion or not, by the way. Even if he loses that belt, I’m still coming for that ass.”
