Israel Adesanya tipped for Jon Jones showdown after rolling Romero at UFC 248
Australia’s UFC featherweight champ Alexander Volkanovski has tipped his close mate Israel Adesanya to make easy work of his UFC 248 opponent before then challenging superstar Jon Jones.
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Alexander Volkanovski reckons close mate Israel Adesanya will deliver such a “beating” at UFC 248, his proposed superfight with Jon Jones will be fast-tracked to this year.
Speaking with The Sunday Telegraph in Las Vegas, Australia’s UFC featherweight champ said Adesanya would either KO or “completely pick apart” Cuban monster Yoel Romero Sunday to retain his middleweight title.
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Volkanovski also suggested the rising New Zealand star, with whom he trains regularly, would move up a division to challenge Jones before the year is out.
While Adesanya has previously stated a Jones superfight won’t happen until 2021, his Aussie training partner reckons the growing hype will hasten a bout that “takes Izzy into Conor McGregor territory”.
WATCH UFC 248: ADESANYA v ROMERO HERE
Quizzed on his prediction for UFC 248 Sunday, Volkanovski said: “I can see Romero getting absolutely picked apart by Izzy.
“Obviously the guy is dangerous and will be looking for that home run KO. But when you’re up against someone who has you out of range, who has you so worried about all the things they can do, (to get that knock out) you have to start taking silly risks.
“And that’s why Yoel Romero could get knocked out himself. Get desperate, do something crazy and get caught.
“But if I was having a punt, I’d put my cash on Izzy by decision.
“Romero is just so durable. I don’t know what it is, but it’s hard to rattle that brain of his.
“You hear guys who’ve fought him too say it’s like hitting a brick.
“So I think Romero will still be there at the end, but just surviving. I think he gets picked off and beat up pretty bad.”
While Australian Rob Whittaker remains the No. 1 challenger in the middleweight division, Adesanya is slated to fight Brazilian Paulo Costa next, with Volkanovski then tipping a Jones bout to close out 2020.
“And look, I’m not giving away inside information,” the Wollongong fighter laughed. “It isn’t something Izzy and I have spoken about.
“But that Jon Jones fight, it has to happen.
“I think it will happen at the end of this year, too.
“And that’s a fight that takes Izzy into Conor McGregor territory.
“Even now, he’s already tracking just like Conor did.
“So once he starts taking those superfights, it’s going to be crazy.”
Adesanya told The Sunday Telegraph he would consider an earlier fight date for Jones, the UFC light heavyweight champ and No. 1 pound for pound fighter.
“Expect the unexpected,” the Kiwi said.
“I know I’ve said 2021, but Raiders Stadium here in Las Vegas will be finished this year.
“So we’ll see.
“I know Jon is calling for me to move up. But he’s been in the UFC 10 years and never moved up in weight himself.
“He knows I’m ascending fast, which is why he wants to stop me early before I learn too much.
“But everything I’ve done so far, it’s been calculated be me. Nobody has ever forced my hand and Jon Jones won’t be the first.”
Originally published as Israel Adesanya tipped for Jon Jones showdown after rolling Romero at UFC 248