Dana White: Israel Adesanya vs. Jon Jones could be ‘a really big fight’

Israel Adesanya gets his chance to dethrone one undisputed champion this weekend. He’s long had another in his sights, and UFC president Dana White believes that “The Last Stylebender” is potentially putting himself into position for an even bigger challenge.

In recent months, Adesanya and UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones have traded insults, with Jones initially addressing a challenge from Adesanya and the conflict escalating from there.

The two are one weight class apart, and Adesanya is just days away from the main event of UFC 243, where he will attempt to unify his interim middleweight title with Robert Whittaker’s own championship. That didn’t stop White from answering a question about a potential future matchup between Adesanya and Jones.

“Those guys have been talking smack back and forth,” White said during an interview with Sky Sports New Zealand on Wednesday. “If Israel wins, and he really does want to fight Jon Jones, that’s a really big fight.”

In Jones’s latest verbal volley, he claimed he will make Adesanya his “absolute bitch” and that he would “expose” Adesanya if they fought. Jones’ next title defense is not yet scheduled.

White was effusive in his praise for the undefeated Adesanya when breaking down the qualities of Saturday’s main event participants.

“Israel Adesanya, obviously has been huge,” White said. “He’s a good-looking kid, he speaks well, and his fighting style is unbelievable. He’s got great kicks, knees, punches, elbows, and he’s worked on his wrestling. If he can stop you from taking him down, (and) if he gets taken down, he pops right back up.”

Watch White’s full interview with Sky Sports below: