Jon Jones vs Israel Adesanya who will win?

Every MMA fan has at least pondered the question: who would emerge victorious in a showdown between Jon Jones vs Israel Adesanya?

Both Jones and Adesanya has achieved tremendous records in the UFC.

Jon Jones, a formidable figure in the MMA world, has conquered numerous legends throughout his career.

On the other hand, Adesanya, with a lean build reminiscent of Jones, has defeated icons like Anderson Silva and other top contenders in the middleweight division.

Despite their differing weight classes, let’s delve into a comparison of their skills and predict the outcome if they were to face off in the same weight category.

Physical Comparison

When comparing the ages of the fighters, both are in their mid-30s. Jones, born in 1987, and Adesanya, born in 1989, make age a negligible factor in this hypothetical matchup.

However, Jones boasts a significant advantage in reach, with an arm reach of 84.5 inches, surpassing Adesanya’s 80 inches.

In fact, Jones ranks among top 20 highest arm reach fighters in MMA history, allowing him to stay outside the striking range of opponents and land effective punches and kicks.

Striking Skills

Jon Jones:

• Striking attempts: 2536 (23 UFC fights)
• Strikes landed: 58%
• Significant strikes absorbed: 2.22 per minute
• Strengths: Reach, footwork, timing, elbow strikes, spinning techniques
• Weaknesses: Mid-range striking

Israel Adesanya:

• Striking attempts: 2386 (16 UFC fights)
• Strikes landed: 48%
• Significant strikes absorbed: 3.11 per minute
• Strengths: Long-range striking, variety of attacks, mixing speed and power, high fight IQ.
• Weaknesses: Close-range striking

An In-Depth Look:

Both fighters boast impressive striking skills, but their approaches differ significantly.

Jon Jones, known for his unorthodox style and exceptional reach, dominates at long range. He uses a variety of techniques, including spinning kicks and elbows, to keep his opponents at bay.

His footwork and timing are unmatched, allowing him to counter effectively and avoid significant damage. However, his mid-range striking leaves room for improvement.

Adesanya, on the other hand, shines in the long-range game. He excels at mixing slower attacks with explosive bursts, making him unpredictable and difficult to read.

His striking is fluid and precise, and he effectively utilizes his long reach to land punches and kicks from a distance.

While his close-range striking is not his strongest point, his overall fight IQ and ability to control the pace of the fight make him a formidable opponent.

Final Verdict:

Jones’s dominance at long range and counterpunching are unmatched, but Adesanya’s unpredictable attacks, intelligent fight strategy, and slightly better timing and precision make him a dangerous opponent.

While Jones relies heavily on his wrestling to control fights, Adesanya’s focus on striking might give him an edge in a pure striking contest.

Ratings:

• Jon Jones Striking Rating: 4/5
• Israel Adesanya Striking Rating: 4.5/5

Wrestling

In a Jon Jones vs. Israel Adesanya wrestling showdown, Jon Jones would be the heavy favorite. His wrestling pedigree and experience far surpass Adesanya’s, leaving the former middleweight champion vulnerable on the ground.

Jon Jones has a staggering 36 successful takedowns in his UFC career, boasting a takedown defense rate of an impressive 95%. He is a former NJCAA Wrestling National Champion, further solidifying his wrestling prowess.

Israel Adesanya has no recorded takedowns in his UFC career, highlighting his weakness in this crucial aspect of combat.

With his clear grappling advantage, Jones would undoubtedly aim to take the fight to the ground. His takedown attempts would be precise and relentless, capitalizing on Adesanya’s lack of experience in defending takedowns.

Once on the ground, Jones would unleash his dominant ground control, utilizing his strength and grappling expertise to control the fight and potentially secure a submission victory.

Ratings:

Jon Jones Wrestling Rating: 4.5/5 (elite, dominant)

Israel Adesanya Wrestling Rating: 3.5/5 (average, vulnerable)

In the hypothetical scenario of a pure wrestling match, Jon Jones’ superior takedown skills and extensive grappling experience would likely lead him to victory.

However, it’s important to note that Adesanya remains a dangerous opponent with diverse striking skills that could potentially keep the fight on the feet and sway the outcome.

Grappling

The recent Instagram post of Jon Jones training with legendary submission grappler Gordon Ryan has reignited the debate: who would win a grappling match between Jones and Israel Adesanya?

• Jon Jones:
  • 23 UFC career submission attempts
  • Elite wrestling background
  • Strong takedown and ground control
  • Experience against top grapplers
• Israel Adesanya:
  • 3 UFC career submission attempts
  • Primarily striking-based fighter
  • Effective takedown defense with head movement and stance switching
  • Limited experience against elite grapplers

Adesanya’s Defense:

Adesanya’s takedown defense is impressive. He keeps his hands low to defend double leg takedowns and employs effective head movement. This strategy has been successful against many grapplers, but it remains to be seen if it can hold up against the elite-level wrestling of Jon Jones.

Jones’s Dominance:

Jones’s grappling resume speaks for itself. His 23 UFC career submission attempts demonstrate his offensive prowess, while his wrestling background and experience against top grapplers solidify his ground dominance.

Ratings:

• Jon Jones Grappling Rating: 4/5
• Israel Adesanya Grappling Rating: 3/5

The Verdict:

While Adesanya’s takedown defense is commendable, Jones’s superior wrestling and grappling experience give him a significant advantage in a grappling match. His offensive capabilities and ground control are likely to overwhelm Adesanya’s defense.

Future Possibilities:

This hypothetical matchup highlights the importance of well-rounded skillsets in MMA. While Adesanya’s striking prowess is undeniable, his grappling skills would need significant improvement to compete with the likes of Jon Jones.

Power Comparison

While both Jon Jones and Israel Adesanya possess impressive striking skills, raw power might not be their strongest attribute. Their prowess lies in their exceptional timing and precision, which often compensate for any perceived lack of brute force.

There are questions regarding Jones’s power since the implementation of USADA, with some speculating about a potential decrease.

However, it’s important to acknowledge that both fighters have achieved significant knockout victories throughout their careers, showcasing the effectiveness of their striking regardless of pure power.

Given their similar power levels and emphasis on technical striking, a fight between Jones and Adesanya has a high chance of going the distance, potentially resulting in a decision victory rather than a knockout finish.

Ratings:

• Jon Jones Power Rating: 3.5/5
• Israel Adesanya Power Rating: 3.5/5

Cardio Comparison

Both Jon Jones and Israel Adesanya have proven their exceptional cardio, showcasing impressive gas tanks throughout their careers. They’ve each faced numerous 5-round battles without succumbing to fatigue, demonstrating remarkable stamina and pacing.

• Average Fight Time:
  • Jon Jones: 14:53 (mm:ss)
  • Israel Adesanya: 18:16 (mm:ss)

While Adesanya has fought in fewer 5-round fights, his average fight time surpasses Jones’s, suggesting potentially more endurance expenditure per fight. However, Jones’s vast experience in 5-round battles demonstrates his ability to maintain his pace and energy throughout the duration.

Ratings:

• Jon Jones Cardio Rating: 4.5/5
• Israel Adesanya Cardio Rating: 4.5/5

While the data may suggest slight differences in average fight time, both Jon Jones and Israel Adesanya have established themselves as elite athletes with phenomenal cardio. Their ability to maintain their energy and perform at a high level throughout even the most demanding fights is truly impressive.

Chin Comparison

• Jon Jones:
  • Never been knocked out in his career
  • Absorbed significant strikes from Domnick Reyes, Alexander Gustafsson, and others without being finished
  • Known for his durability and ability to recover from heavy blows

• Israel Adesanya:
  • Knocked out by Alex Pereira in kickboxing
  • Absorbed heavy strikes from Derek Brunson, Paulo Costa, and Marvin Vettori but survived
  • Considered to have a good chin, but lacks the “iron chin” reputation of Jones

Jon Jones’s undefeated record with no knockouts speaks volumes about his chin’s resilience.

He has faced some of the hardest hitters in the light heavyweight division and emerged victorious. While he did sustain visible damage in certain fights, his ability to stay conscious and fight through adversity is remarkable.

On the other hand, Israel Adesanya’s knockout loss to Pereira in kickboxing raises questions about his chin’s vulnerability. However, it’s important to note that the rules and context of kickboxing differ significantly from MMA.

Furthermore, Adesanya has shown remarkable durability in his MMA career, taking significant punishment from powerful strikers like Brunson and Costa without being finished.

While both Jones and Adesanya possess strong chins, Jon Jones currently holds the definitive edge due to his undefeated record and history of facing elite-level competition. However, Adesanya’s chin shouldn’t be underestimated. He has proven his resilience against some of the hardest hitters in the middleweight division.

Ratings:

• Jon Jones Chin Rating: 4/5
• Israel Adesanya Chin Rating: 3.8/5

Jon Jones vs Israel Adesanya Winner

After analyzing their skills in striking, wrestling, grappling, cardio, chin, and power, Jon Jones is projected to have a slightly higher chance of winning. He emerged victorious on the scorecard, beating Israel Adesanya with a score of 24.5 out of 30 compared to Adesanya’s 22.8 out of 30.

Who do you think would win in a real fight? Share your thoughts in the comments below!