The long-standing feud between Israel Adesanya and Jon Jones may finally be coming to an end. The two MMA fighters have been exchanging barbs for years, with the prospect of a superfight constantly in the background.

Adesanya has been a force to reckon with in the 185-pound division, apart from his loss to Alex Pereira which he avenged immediately. Jones, on the other hand, is widely regarded as the greatest light heavyweight fighter of all time, currently holding the UFC heavyweight title.

Jones surprisingly praised Adesanya, referring to him as his favorite fighter in the UFC. The former light heavyweight champion admitted that he and Adesanya were not friends, but he acknowledged the Nigerian-born fighter’s entertainment value. Jones commended Adesanya’s whole story with Pereira, describing it as the most entertaining thing he’s seen in the UFC for a while.

Although Adesanya laughed it off and questioned its veracity initially, Adesanya later responded by acknowledging his respect for Jones as a fighter. He revealed that he became a fan of Jones after watching him fight Stephan Bonnar at UFC 94. However, things changed when Jones expressed interest in fighting him, which led to a feud that lasted for years.

The possibility of an Adesanya vs. Jones fight has dwindled over the years, with Adesanya focusing on his rivalry with Pereira while Jones moved up to heavyweight, where he recently became the UFC champion. For Adesanya, the idea of fighting Jones under the current circumstances isn’t a priority. He believes that growth and maturity are crucial for any man, and there’s room for everyone to shine in the sport.

Adesanya pointed out that there was a stage when he thought Jones was a fan of his but later felt that the former champion was threatened by his arrival. He likened the situation to his previous feud with Henry Cejudo, suggesting that fighters in different weight classes should have their own lanes to greatness instead of tearing each other down.

In conclusion, while the prospect of an Adesanya vs. Jones fight may have been exciting in the past, the current circumstances make it unlikely. However, the recent exchange between the two fighters has shown that there may be some mutual respect between them after all.