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Israel Adesanya still plans to move up in weight for a super fight against Jon Jones.
With Jon Jones recently vacating the UFC light heavyweight title and teasing of a move up to heavyweight, there’s been less talk of a potential super fight against Israel Adesanya.
Adesanya is currently gearing up to defend his middleweight title against Paulo Costa at UFC 253, so Jones isn’t exactly at the forefront of his mind, but ‘The Last Stylebender’ admits that ‘Bones’ is still in his crosshairs.
Speaking to reporters ahead of UFC 253 (h/t MMA Fighting’s Steven Marrocco), the reigning middleweight king revealed that he is still planning to move up in weight to challenge Jones — but only after he has cemented his legacy as one of the greatest middleweight champions in UFC history.
“I still have that in mind, it’s still part of my plan,” Adesanya said. “But let me ask you this, how many years has Jon Jones been in the UFC? And he only just moved up in weight, right?
“So why would he or anyone else expect me to move up in weight, when I just got the belt, rather than defend my belt like he has and create a legacy before jumping up in weight. So I’m sticking to my plan. I’m never going to let anyone make me fold, or make me make a move ahead of schedule. I’m sticking to my plan.”
Jones, who believes he is destined to become heavyweight champion, is expected to take on the winner of the proposed heavyweight title bout between Stipe Miocic and Francis Ngannou later this year.
Adesanya, meanwhile, will put his middleweight title up for grabs against Costa at UFC 253. The highly anticipated PPV takes place later this month, Sept. 27 at the UFC Fight Island facility in Abu Dhabi.