It’s safe to say that there’s no love lost between Jon Jones and Israel Adesanya.  After all, the trash-talking has been going on for some time now.  “I’m probably going to break his shoulder when I get my hands on him,” Jones taunted on Twitter late last year.  The pair have been sparring online for a while, but when is UFC going to physically put the two together in the ring?

Current UFC middleweight champion Adesanya probably has enough on his plate.  He’s defended the title for some time now, and a beef with Jones is only exacerbating matters.  He’s also been more than open about fighting Jones in the past.

Speaking late last year, Adesanya advised that Jones simply might not be up to scratch.  “I want to fight the guy, but how are you going to sell a fight to the public that they know the guy lost three of his last four?”

Waiting with Bated Breath

In the same conversation in Autumn 2019, Adesanya hinted he’d be happy with fighting Jones by the spring.  “We’re talking right now,” he stated.  “Things are behind the wall, in the works.  I don’t want to give anything away.”

That, at least, should be some consolation to UFC fans who are waiting for the inevitable.  Multiple occasions have been and gone where the pair could have squared up. Various sources claim that UFC seems to be missing chances left, right and centre.

As recently as early February, for example, Adesanya took to Twitter to mock Jones over his tight clash with Dominick Reyes.  The UFC 247 bout saw Jones take the spoils on a 49-46 decision. The controversy surrounding this decision is well-documented.  Many people taking advantage through online sports betting at William Hill were likely up in arms after Reyes took control early on.

Do They Want It?

If the online banter is anything to go by, most definitely.  Despite Adesanya continuing to ride high with his own belt, Bones continues to suggest that he is nowhere near his level of performance in the ring.  This, to the champion, is baffling – and hence why he’s been ready to bring out the statistics.

It even seems as though UFC is keen for the fight to happen.  Sources suggest that Dana White is more than behind plans to bring the Jones v Adesanya bout to the headlines.  Of course, it makes perfect sense that UFC is waiting things out until the perfect moment arises. Quite when this will be, of course, is anyone’s guess.

But what do the fans want?  Both packs behind the fighters are fiercely passionate to see this bout happen.  Many feel that Jones is beneath Adesanya. Jones’ corner, meanwhile, is often as confident and self-assured as he is.

Coming Soon

Given that Adesanya himself suggested a March bout, it will be unsurprising to see the two lock horns in the near future.  As always with UFC, however, it’s worth keeping an eye on the headlines. Who are you betting on?