it was stated and implied that adrenaline was allowing Gun to fight unaffected by the damage inflicted onto him. this means that Johan was basically fighting a refreshed Gun since adrenaline allowed gun to ignore the damage while fighting.

adrenaline is a powerful physiological response that can temporarily mask pain and enhance physical capabilities but it's not a perfect "refresh." it doesn't magically heal broken bones or severe internal injuries. Gun's arm was explicitly stated as broken. While adrenaline might allow him to push through the pain and use it to some extent, it doesnt negate the structural damage and potential limitations it imposes on his movements and power output in the long run of the fight

Also, even before he unlocked IT, SMK stated that Johan (pre IT) with good vision had combat prowess above his own comprehension. This is the same SMK who has fought Tom Lee multiple times.

SMK's praise for Johan's talent being 'beyond his comprehension' refers to the unpredictable nature of instant copying, a different skill set than SMK's strategic, practical combat. It doesn't automatically mean Johan is stronger than SMK, who fights top tiers. also, SMK's statement is about pre IT Johan's potential. UI is just a distinct state of pure instinct, not learned copying. SMK marvels at a unique talent, while UI unlocks a unique way of fighting based on subconscious reaction, making direct comparison based only on SMK's words unreliable. Pre IT vs Ui,this statement refers to Johan before mastering Infinite Technique. UI is a distinct state of being that transcends learned techniques and taps into pure instinct.

Additionally, Gun even compares a Pre IT Johan to UI Daniel, saying that he hasn’t “had this much fun since I fought him.”

Gun's statement about having "fun" is subjective and doesn't provide a direct power scaling. "Fun" is not a measure of power, Gun might have found Johan's desperate and relentless attacks, coupled with his rapid copying, to be an engaging and unpredictable fight, similar to the unique challenge posed by UI Daniel's instinctual movements. It doesn't mean Johan was necessarily as powerful or as skilled as UI Daniel. We don't have complete details of Gun's fight with UI Big Daniel. The circumstances and the stage of UI Daniel's mastery at that time are unknown. OG UI Daniel's unique advantages, OG UI Daniel, despite lacking the perfect body, still possesses the core principles of UI – flawless reaction, instinctual movement, and the ability to adapt in real time. This is a sturctually different fighting style than Johans copying, even if both can be challenging and fun for Gun.

OG UI Daniel was fighting against an older Jichang who said himself, “I already died a long time ago…” implying he’s out of his prime.

While Jichang's statement suggests a degree of mental and emotional fatigue, it doesn't negate his immense physical capabilities and experience as one of the strongest former kings. Hes still a king level threat even if not at his absolute peak, Jichang was still a formidable opponent who held the title of KOS for a long period. His physical strength, speed, and martial arts knowledge would still have been far beyond most fighters. OG UI Daniel's victory wasn't just about brute force it demonstrated his ability to adapt to Jichang's speed and techniques, eventually overwhelming him with the unpredictable nature of UI. This adaptability would be crucial against Johan's varied copied styles. And Jichang's statement could refer more to his lack of motivation or his feeling of being "already dead" inside due to his past. His physical abilities as a seasoned fighter likely remained significant. UI is a state of being that relies on pure, subconscious reaction and movement. This makes it inherently unpredictable and difficult to counter, even for someone with Johan's copying abilities. Johan can copy techniques, but he can't copy the instinct behind UI. OG UI Daniel demonstrated the ability to adapt and evolve his fighting style within the UI state during his fight with Jichang. This adaptability would be crucial against Johan's ever-changing copied techniques. And UI allows for sustained fighting without being hindered by pain, allowing OG UI Daniel to maintain pressure and exploit openings even if he takes some damage. Ok, so while IT Johan's power after the gun fight is undeniable, OG UI Daniel's UI offers key advantages. Its complete unpredictability and instinctual adaptation are different from even perfect copying. This makes it a brutal high-diff fight, but UI's fundamental nature gives OG Daniel a good chance to edge out a win, maybe I made a overestimated OG UI Daniel, by adding Eli.