Morning Report: Israel Adesanya to Jon Jones: ‘People are going to remember you because you’re a drug cheat’

It may be 2020, but the beef between Israel Adesanya and Jon Jones is far from buried.

Last year, Jones and Adesanya had one of the most unexpected feuds in MMA. What started as good-natured calling out of one another for a future fight, quickly devolved into a full-blown war of words and things are showing no signs of stopping. Speaking recently with ESPN, Adesanya took the opportunity to once more fire shots back at Jones, this time attacking the light heavyweight champion’s sordid history with USADA.

“That’s another thing the motherf*cker said,” Adesanya said. “Jon Jones, motherf*cking Jones, he’s like, ‘Well, when I’m done, I’m glad people can remember my accolades rather than my walkout.’ It’s like, shut the f*ck 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 sh*t you’ve done after Shogun [Rua], 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. So my walkouts are gonna be even greater than his whole career.”

Aside from being stripped of the title multiple times, Jones has had one of the most remarkable careers in MMA history. But Adesanya is on his way to potentially matching it. “The Last Stylebender” joined the UFC in 2018 and his been on a torrid pace to start his career, winning Breakout Fighter of the Year for his rookie year in the promotion, and taking home Fighter of the Year honors in 2019, along with Fight of the Year honors for his five-round war with Kelvin Gastelum at UFC 236. And according to the middleweight champion, that’s only the beginning.

“Like I said, I’m only just getting started.” Adesanya said. “I’m f*cking nearly two years in the UFC. Only two years in this f*cking company. Imagine what I’m gonna do in the next five, six, seven years. I’m only two years in. [Jones is] already a boomer. He’s old, he’s washed. So yeah, walkouts to knockouts. You’re welcome.”

The two aren’t likely to fight anytime soon. For one thing, Jones is currently set to face Dominick Reyes at UFC 247, and for another, Adesanya has been adamant that he wants to defend his middleweight title a few times before moving up to face Jones next year. Adesanya was supposed to be facing Paulo Costa for his first title defense but an injury to Costa has sidelined him. In the interim, Yoel Romero has been rumored as a possible opponent for Adesanya, and “The Last Stylebender” basically confirmed that Romero will get the next title shot.

“The fight’s done,” Romero said. “Make no mistake, I’m still putting work in, I’m still getting ready for my second title defense against a veteran of the game, a veteran in wrestling, a tough motherf*cker, the boogeyman of the division. The guy nobody calls out except Stylebender.”

Should Adesanya get past Romero, Costa would presumably still be next in line. After that though, there are not must-face contenders for Adesanya and, should Jones still hold the light heavyweight title, a superfight between the two could well be in the offing.

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No regrets. Frankie Edgar: ‘No regrets’ taking fight with ‘Korean Zombie,’ still plans move to bantamweight.

Crossover. Promoter: Claressa Shields serious about becoming ‘two-sport star’ with boxing and UFC.

Sanctions. Dequan Townsend sanctioned after testing positive for cocaine and fentanyl, still scheduled for UFC Raleigh.

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The A-Side Live Chat.

Best KSW submissions of 2019.

Claressa Shields on the possible MMA move.

TTTHS.

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Heavy Hands. Comparing the current crop of Bellator and UFC champions.

Beatdown. Debating the true 2019 Fighter of the Year.

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Conor.

Angela Hill is smart. Listen to her.

Ben Askren trying to get involved in the commentary game.

Tony.

Goals.

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UFC Auckland poster.

Feeling good about it.

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Luis Pena (7-2) vs. Alex Munoz (6-0); UFC Norfolk, Feb. 29.

Francisco Trinaldo (24-7) vs. John Makdessi (17-6); UFC Brasilia, March 14.

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Thanks for reading and see y’all tomorrow.

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