Former UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya has revealed the real reason heavyweight champion Jon Jones wanted to fight him.
Adesanya explained, as reported by Sports Illustrated:
He told me it was just because he always wanted to fight Anderson Silva. But then that fight went off, and he just thought, 'I'll fight the next level, the next best thing.' And it was you, so that's why he called me out.
Currently, Adesanya is on a two-fight losing streak. In his last bout in August 2024 at UFC 305, he lost to Dricus du Plessis by submission in the fourth round. In September 2023 at UFC 293, he lost to Sean Strickland by unanimous decision. Adesanya's professional record stands at 24 wins and four losses.