NBA standout James Johnson made an appearance on the NBA Rookie Life podcast, during which he discussed his personal experience with combat sports. Johnson, who stands at six feet seven inches and weighs 240 pounds, mentioned that he has been practicing striking since his childhood, primarily focusing on karate. He expressed his confidence in his striking skills, stating that he believes he could outperform Jon Jones in the MMA Octagon, and he even expressed his willingness to take on a fight against Jones in the world of mixed martial arts.

Jones currently holds the top spot in the UFC's pound-for-pound rankings. He boasts a remarkable heavyweight career record of 27 wins, 1 loss, with 10 victories via knockout and seven via submission. While Johnson's self-confidence is admirable, the prospect of defeating a fighter of Jones's caliber appears exceedingly improbable.

Nonetheless, he acknowledges that he would require a year of training, considering that Jones has a lifelong background in wrestling. The power forward is of the opinion that within a year, he could acquire the skills necessary to defend against Jones' ground-based attacks and maintain the fight in a standing position, where he is confident in his ability to defeat "Bones."

“My standup game is great but what we all know Jones is a collegiate wrestler, really good on the ground and that’s not my forte. You know, I can get on the ground....To his level? I’m not there yet I’d definitely need a year to work on counters and defenses against it so that we can stay on our feet." Johnson said.

“He started learning how to use your hands and your feet, what, after college?” Johnson asked. “Like, I’ve been punching and kicking since I was five, six years-old. The opposite for him because he’s been wrestling for that long. Learning all his wrestling moves. As long as I can keep him from going on the floor, I win.”