[autotag]Israel Adesanya[/autotag] says people will remember [autotag]Jon Jones[/autotag], but not necessarily for the reasons the UFC light heavyweight champion might hope.
The two have been going back and forth for a while now, and their beef keeps on brewing. UFC middleweight champion Adesanya (18-0 MMA, 7-0 UFC) had a memorable year, which he kick-started by defeating his idol, former UFC middleweight king Anderson Silva, in a passing-of-the-torch moment.
He then captured the interim middle title in a “Fight of the Year” performance over Kelvin Gastelum. Finally, Adesanya rounded off the year by unifying the titles in a near-flawless performance at UFC 243, taking out Robert Whittaker in Round 2.
On that same night, Adesanya also had a memorable walkout, showing off his dance moves in a choreographed routine that UFC light heavyweight champ Jones used as an opportunity to take another dig at him.
“That’s another thing Jon Jones said, mother(expletive) Jones. He’s like, ‘Well, when I’m done, I’m glad people can remember my accolades rather than my walkout,'” Adesanya told ESPN. “It’s like, shut the (expletive) up. People are going to remember you because you’re a drug cheat. You’re a steroid cheat. That’s what they’re gonna remember. All the (expletive) you’ve done after (beating Mauricio Rua in 2011), no one really cares anymore because they know you cheated. You popped in the same month as your brother in 2016. That’s all they’re gonna remember. My walkouts are gonna be even greater than his whole career.”
Both Jones and Adesanya entertained a potential fight down the line, but Adesanya has previously mentioned on numerous occasions he intends on defending his 185-pound strap.
“I’m only just getting started,” Adesanya said. “I’m nearly two years in the UFC. … Imagine what I’m gonna do in the next five, six, seven years. I’m only two years in. He’s already a boomer. He’s old. He’s washed (up). So yeah, walkouts to knockouts. You’re welcome.
“I could say whatever I want. It’s all words. Eventually, if we’ll see each other, we’ll see each other. I still have never seen me and him in the same room together. I wonder why. But eventually we’ll see each other at some point, and he’s gonna have to see me like everyone else does.
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