James Johnson is one of the most physically formidable players in the NBA. Not only is he imposing at 6’7″ and 240 pounds, but players throughout the league know Johnson has a second-degree black belt in karate with an alleged 20–0 kickboxing record and 7–0 mark in MMA.
If Johnson is indeed undefeated as a mixed martial arts fighter, that would explain his confidence in making a bold challenge. Appearing on the NBA Rookie Life with Ryan Hollins podcast, Johnson said he could beat UFC heavyweight champ Jon Jones in a match.
Lest anyone think Johnson is dangerous cocky, he concedes that he would need a year of training before taking on Jones.
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“I think I could beat him for real,” Johnson told Hollins. “With a year of training defense, I just need ground defense. I’ve been punching and kicking since I was five, six years old.”
Jones is currently ranked as the UFC’s No. 1 pound-for-pound fighter. He has a career record of 27–1–0 as a heavyweight with 10 knockouts and seven wins by submission. Johnson’s belief in himself is impressive, but beating a fighter of Jones’s caliber seems highly unlikely.
