28 February 2023 , 08:17
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Jon Jones has complimented Israel Adesanya's fashion sense despite the UFC rivals engaging in a bitter feud in recent years.
Jones, 35, makes his UFC return on Saturday after more than three years away from the octagon as he faces Ciryl Gane for the heavyweight title in Las Vegas. A fight between Jones and Adesanya was once sought when the former champions started going back and forth on social media, but the grudge fight is unlikely to happen with Jones now at heavyweight and Adesanya continuing his career at middleweight.
Adesanya is not only known for his exciting fight style, but also for his colourful and eccentric outfit choices. Jones gave a rare compliment of 'The Last Stylebender' whilst filming a 'sneaker shop' video as he was asked by Complex about what fighter in the UFC would deserve their own sneaker deal.
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"If I had to recommend, I don't like this fighter very much but I can't deny Israel Adesanya," Jones said. "Izzy is a statement maker, he is not afraid to step outside of his box when it comes to his fashion and things like that. I actually think he does have a deal with Puma, so well deserved."
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Jones served as the UFC light-heavyweight champion for many years and Adesanya tried to recapture his rival's belt when he moved up to 205lb to face Jan Blachowicz for the undisputed title in 2020. Before Adesanya went on to lose against Blachowicz in the fight, Jones tweeted to him: “Israel keep convincing yourself that one day you’ll be ready to face a boss like me. I’ll keep convincing myself that when that day comes, I will make you my absolute b****.
A fight between Jon Jones and Israel Adesanya was once sought (Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)
The UFC rivals have now gone down different paths (Getty Images)Adesanya hasn't fought again at light-heavyweight since losing to Blachwicz and Jones would later state a super-fight between him and 'The Last Stylebender' was dead and buried. Adesanya's coach Eugene Bareman tried his best to keep the matchup alive, but Jones' shot the attempt down by labelling Bareman as a "cloud troat".
“Give it up coach,” Jones wrote on Twitter. “We’ve all seen your cards, your boy has almost no take down defense or offence off his back. Now you’re just being a cloud trout, if you would honestly send him in there against a 260 pound wrestler after that last performance, you don’t care about his well-being.”