Israel Adesanya thinks that Jon Jones has made the right call by retiring earlier this year.
The greatest hunter of all time is expected to be against Tom Aspinall in a heavyweight unification.
Jon Jones reportedly shook his hand on a $ 30 million deal to make what Dana White believed that the biggest fight in the UFC history could have been.
However, he later withdrew from the fight and announced his retirement in a statement of social media.
Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC
Israel Adesanya supports Jon Jones's pension
Only a few days later, Jones completed a pension U-turn after he had learned that the UFC will hold an event in the White House in July 2026.
Dana White says that there is only a 'billion-to-one' chance that the former heavyweight and light heavyweight title holder will compete on that map after he has broken his confidence by withdrawing their recent fighting agreement.
Yet Jones remains hopeful that he can restore his relationship with the UFC boss and fight Tom Aspinall in the White House next year.
Israel Adesanya believes that Jones initially made the right call by rejecting $ 30 million and withdrawing from MMA to prevent them from reinforcing a defeat of an inheritance.
“If I was in his position, I would probably have done the smart thing, that's after Stipe Buiter,” he said. “If I perhaps extended it for a few months, and I just know that I am not going to fight anymore, I don't roll the dice against such a man.
“You don't want to risk it because it is a great legacy. Forbid God, He beats you, you have to come back and try to fight and beat him again. It will extend your career for another two years because you are trying to get that back.”
Israel Adesanya expects Jon Jones to fight again
In the end, Israel Adesanya does not believe that we have seen the last of Jon Jones in the UFC Octagon.
“I think he will come back,” added the former dual UFC champion of the UFC.
“He comes back after he has seen more of Tom fight against two other boys and probably get his stock.
“He will do it. It's Jon Jones. Me and Jon, we are cool. I've been a fan.
“Tom is another beast. Fighting Tom is another beast, but I think he will do it, and the fight will be so much bigger.”