“Joe Rogan confidently declares who he believes to be the ‘baddest man on the planet’ without any hesitation.”
The American comedian tuned podcasting giant has long been an aficionado on all things combat sports, and has never been afraid to speak his mind when it comes to the long-running question of boxing versus mixed martial arts.
Though fights like Randy Couture vs James Toney in the UFC and Floyd Mayweather vs Conor McGregor in boxing have proven that more often than not an athlete will prevail when the fight is contested in their discipline, there remains a debate around of the two sports’ efficacy outside of organised events.
However, the UFC commentator insisted Jones’ grappling experience would give him the edge over his boxing counterpart in a fight with no rules.
‘No one thinks that Tyson Fury can beat Jon Jones in a fight,’ Rogan explained on an episode of the Joe Rogan Experience podcast featuring comedian Andrew Schulz.
‘No one thinks that. Tyson doesn’t think that. You want to talk about who’s the baddest man on the planet? If Jon Jones and Tyson Fury are locked into a room, I’m pushing all of my chips on black.
‘Tyson Fury is an amazing boxer [but] he doesn’t have a f***ing chance in hell of making it out of that room. Zero chance, he would have to catch Jon immediately with one punch and I just don’t see that happening, man.
‘The threat of the takedown looms so large, that shot would come so unexpectedly and when he gets his hands around you, you’d be stunned.’
Despite his status within the squared circle, the Gypsy King has long shown an interest in MMA, having been filmed practicing thai boxing techniques with Darren Till, and grappling with Nick Diaz in the past.
Jones claimed the heavyweight crown with a first-round submission against Ciryl Gane at UFC 285 in March
Meanwhile Fury last fought in December, retaining his WBC belt with a knockout of Derek Chisora
Fury has also long been linked with a crossover fight with former UFC Heavyweight Champion Francis Ngannou, and claimed that he would be willing to compete in an unprecedented mixed-rules bout.
After returning from a lengthy hiatus to defeat former interim champion Ciryl Gane to claim the UFC’s heavyweight strap and become a two-weight world champion in March.
Jones has since called for a showdown with Stipe Miocic which had initially been slated for the UFC’s International Fight Week, but the current status of the fight is unknown.
Meanwhile after the breakdown in negotiations for an undisputed title fight with Oleksandr Usyk, Fury has teased an upcoming bout, with Eddie Hearn claiming the WBC heavyweight king will face off against Andy Ruiz Jnr in July.