MMA Linker

[philphan]

Dana White: 'Massive hurdles' in the way of Jon Jones vs. Israel Adesanya superfight
https://mmajunkie.usatoday.com/2021/01/ ... superfight


Dana White thinks a lot of things need to align before the UFC can entertain the idea of Jon Jones vs. [autotag]Israel Adesanya[autotag].

The UFC president doesn’t want to star planning a potential showdown between the two UFC stars since there are “many massive hurdles” in the way of the superfight. Although the trash talk and the bad blood is present, White thinks timing and weight classes are threatening the chances of the Jones-Adesanya matchup.

“With Jon Jones moving up to heavyweight, I don’t know. Then there’s all the talk between him and Adesanya. I don’t want to get too excited,” White told UFC broadcast partner ESPN. “Adesanya still has to fight (UFC light heavyweight champion) Jan (Blachowicz), and Jones is at heavyweight.

“There’s so many massive hurdles that these guys need to get over, so don’t get excited thinking about Jon Jones vs. Israel Adesanya.”

Jones vacated the UFC light heavyweight title this past August for a planned move up to heavyweight. He has yet to get his first fight booked in the new weight class. Adesanya, who holds the UFC middleweight belt, is moving to to the 205-pound weight class to challenge newly crowned champ Blachowicz at UFC 259 in March.
Although Jones has expressed no desire of competing again at 205 pounds, White thinks that’s the right division for a Jones-Adesnaya fight.

“Jon Jones fought at light heavyweight his whole career and Adesanya is moving up to fight Jan for the title,” White said. “But does Jon Jones ever want to go back to light heavyweight again? So that just blows the whole thing out of the water.”

White, who’s had a documented rocky relationship with Jones, says he’s at a good standing with the 33-year-old and thinks Jones just needed some time away from the sport to get back in the groove of things.

“When you’re in this business, the amount of negativity that surrounds you on a daily basis is completely overwhelming to some people,” White said. “I think for some of these guys to step away from it for a while and focus on their family or hobbies or other things they have going on in their lives, (it) makes them appreciate coming back after taking a break.”

[MadTitan]

Walls are closing in on Jones.

Someone is beating him soon.

SOOON~~~ !!!!
muahhahahaahaaaaaaa

[PBells]

Shouldn’t be sanctioned to protect Israel’s health and well-being

[MiniMan]

Shouldn’t be sanctioned to protect Israel’s health and well-being

If it happens, let’s have a little bet on it.

[PBells]

Shouldn’t be sanctioned to protect Israel’s health and well-being

If it happens, let’s have a little bet on it.

Deal

[DanyeWest]

I don't see this as anything than propping up Jones' move to HW. It makes him, and in a lot of ways rightfully so, seem like he's going after tougher competition by moving up and fighting the big boys rather than taking on the MW who comes in underweight to his fights more often than not. I don't think it would be UNcompetittive, but I think it's not as big of a deal for "legacy" if he comes in and cruises on izzy even compared to a well fought loss at HW.


Or whatever hell I dunno

[jblaze]

Even if Jones showed up at 250 pounds I am quite confident Izzy can defend himself better than most of his previous opponents.

[PBells]

The glaring issue here is that next to no one has wrestled Israel and Jon threw Olympian Cormier around with ease.

Skinnysanya gets sonned IMO

[MiniMan]

The glaring issue here is that next to no one has wrestled Israel and Jon threw Olympian Cormier around with ease.

Skinnysanya gets sonned IMO

Cormier doesn’t have kickboxing like Izzy.

[PBells]

I wish kickboxing stifled wrestling but it usually doesn’t

[MiniMan]

Jones got boxed up by Reyes.

[thezo]

by mollywhop

[PBells]

Jones got boxed up by Reyes.

And still won

[MiniMan]

*got the decision

[MadTitan]

Jones got boxed up by Reyes.

And still won

By the skin of his teeth.

Then, when things finally get difficult....he vacates the title and is currently in MMA limbo, with no division to call his home.
What a guy