Jon Jones has hit back at Kamaru Usman following Usman’s assertion that Brock Lesnar would likely triumph over Jones in a pure wrestling contest. Jones’ response was brief but impactful.
During a recent episode of the “Pound 4 Pound” podcast with Henry Cejudo, Usman was asked to predict the outcome of a hypothetical wrestling match between Jones and Lesnar. Usman favored Lesnar, citing the former UFC heavyweight champion’s size and the challenges of attacking someone of his physical build.
Jon Jones Responds to Kamaru Usman’s Brock Lesnar Wrestling Debate
Usman elaborated on his reasoning, suggesting that Lesnar’s “sheer size” would be a deciding factor, while acknowledging that Jones might be “a little more offensive.” He expressed doubt that Jones could effectively execute takedowns against a man as large as Lesnar multiple times. This discussion specifically focused on a wrestling scenario, such as freestyle or Greco-Roman, rather than an MMA fight.
Jones swiftly replied on social media, delivering a statement that quickly resonated within the MMA community. He tweeted to Usman, “I’m getting my hand raised against you and Brock in the same night.”
Considering their wrestling backgrounds, Lesnar boasts a more extensive collegiate career, winning the 2000 NCAA Division I heavyweight title with a 106-5 record at Minnesota. Jones, on the other hand, was a New York state champion, an NJCAA champion at Iowa Central, and a Junior Greco-Roman regional winner before transitioning to MMA.
Usman also possesses a strong wrestling pedigree, having won the 2010 NCAA Division II national title at 174 pounds and achieving three-time Division II All-American status.
Lesnar is listed at 6’3″ and approximately 286 pounds by WWE, while Jones is generally listed at 6’4″ and 238 pounds, though he spent much of his career competing at the light heavyweight limit of 205 pounds.
The core of the debate lies in Lesnar’s recognized high-level wrestling achievements and his significant size advantage over many fighters Jones has encountered, explaining Usman’s inclination. Conversely, Jones has built a reputation on his timing, control, takedowns, clinch work, and ability to solve problems against top-tier opponents, making his rejection of the idea that Lesnar would simply dominate him in a wrestling-only setting understandable.
Currently, this remains a theoretical discussion, not an actual scheduled contest. There has been no announcement of a wrestling match between Jones and Lesnar, and the exchange originated from a hypothetical question on a podcast before moving to social media. The conversation gained traction due to the involvement of three prominent figures in combat sports history: Jones, a former two-division UFC champion; Usman, a former UFC welterweight champion; and Lesnar, whose collegiate and UFC achievements continue to lend weight to any fantasy wrestling scenario.
