Israel Adesanya isn’t feeling all the talk about Robert Whittaker and his improvements.
Israel Adesanya is preparing for a rematch with Robert Whittaker this coming Saturday night at UFC 271. Adesanya holds the win from the first meeting but a lot is being put on the improvements that Whittaker has made since their last meeting. Whittaker is 3-0 since his loss to Adesanya at UFC 243, and Adesanya has been hearing the growing buzz.
“Yes. Way too much,” Adesanya said of the weight being put on Whittaker’s improved skills (via MMA Fighting). “To the point where I’m like, did he invent a new move or something? Did he reinvent the jab or I don’t know what. He improved, yes, but not to the point where people have blown it up to be. The proportion. I think maybe people just have low standards, that’s all. I just have high standards.”
Adesanya was made some improvements himself since their last face-to-face in the OCtagon. However, he did experience his first loss when he decided to make a jump to light heavyweight and face off against Jan Blachowicz. Adesanya is still undefeated at middleweight, and he believes he still has what it takes to beat Whittaker and defend his title.
Image Credit: Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images
Whittaker is on a three-fight winning streak since losing the belt. He has faced some of the very best at 185 pounds and looked very good doing it. His last three were all decision victories over Darren Till, Jared Cannonier, and Kelvin Gastelum. Even though Whittaker’s wins proved he can battle out a tough win, Adesanya is less than impressed.
“He played the game very well against all three opponents, I feel. At the same time, you put those three guys together, they don’t amount to me. The way they play the game, it’s not the same. So like I said, (Georges St-Pierre impression) ‘I was not impressed by your performance.’”
If Whittaker’s skills have improved, then that will be on display at UFC 271. Whittaker has been eager to finally get his rematch and potentially win back his lost UFC belt on Feb. 12. As for Adesanya, he certainly has the confidence going into this fight, but will his own skills hold up?
Who do you have winning the middleweight title at UFC 271, Adesanya or Whittaker?
Former UFC middleweight champion Robert Whittaker has given a firm and hilarious response to those suggesting a victory over Israel Adesanya is as simple as “take him down.”
While both men have been in fine form at 185 pounds since their meeting, racking up three wins each, Adesanya did suffer his first professional defeat in the period between his Whittaker matchups.
The first blemish on his record came last March in his pursuit of two-division championship glory. Against then-titleholder Jan Blachowicz, “The Last Stylebender” was beaten on the scorecards after being taken down and controlled in the championship rounds.
Why, then, are we still seeing the same hypothesis on Adesanya’s wrestling being thrown around? Whittaker believes it’s because those who haven’t fought professionally don’t have a grasp on the mechanics and mindset involved in fighting.
During a recent appearance on Submission Radio, “The Reaper” suggested there’s no way anyone who hasn’t competed at the highest level of fighting can comprehend the feeling of being in a scrap.
“I don’t think anyone, anyone who doesn’t fight at the highest level has any real grasp on what it feels like to be in a fight,” said Whittaker. “And I mean anyone, anyone who hasn’t fought at the highest level; they can’t fully grasp how hard it is to do certain things in a fight, or what’s going through your mind during a fight, or how high the stakes are, and how heavy the pressure is. Unless you fight at the highest level, nobody knows. You can’t know.”
With that sentiment in mind, it’s no surprise Whittaker is so frustrated at one portion of the MMA fanbase…
Whittaker: If It’s That Simple, Why Hasn’t Anybody Done It?
Taking the opportunity to vent his annoyance at one pre-UFC 271 narrative, Whittaker laid into those who continue to brand his path to victory against Adesanya as being as simple as a takedown.
Understandably, he said if it’s that simple, why have 20 middleweights failed to have their hand raised against Adesanya?
“People are saying, ‘You just gotta get him on his back.’ Why hasn’t anybody done it?! Why hasn’t anybody done it?! If it’s that simple, why has nobody in the history of Adesanya’s career just taken him down and held him down for five rounds? Why? Because he’s fucking hard to take down! You know what I mean? He is a nightmare to take down. He’s got long limbs, he’s got long arms, and I’m pretty sure he works a little bit of wrestling defense; I just have an inkling that’s what he does,” Whittaker added with sarcasm.
“When I see people just like, ‘Ah, it’s simple, you just take him down.’ Yeah, it is simple. You know what else would be simple? If I get a piece of paper and write down a game plan that says, ‘Punch him in the chin.’ That’s a simple game plan that is sure-fire to win,” Whittaker continued. “It’s a little harder to pull off, you know, when you have all the factors of a title fight going through that.”
Concluding his entertaining rant, Whittaker reminded the “just take Adesanya down” brigade that game plans are met with a moving opponent attempting to defend against it, something that is often not considered.
“Remember, it’s not like a game plan where you give it to someone and then all they have to do is execute that game plan on a dummy that isn’t moving; that isn’t trying to actively counter-act whatever the hell it is that you’re doing [LAUGHS]. I went on a bit of a rant there,” concluded Whittaker.
It’s safe to say that if you see Robert Whittaker walking around Houston this week, don’t say the words, “take Adesanya down” or “just do what Blachowicz did…”
Do you think Robert Whittaker has what it takes to dethrone Israel Adesanya?
Robert Whittaker’s coach Alex Prates has revealed how the former champion has grown into a “whole different beast” on the feet ahead of his rematch with Israel Adesanya.
At the start of 2019, Whittaker was on the UFC’s middleweight throne, riding a nine-fight win streak, and was unbeaten since 2014. That form came crashing to a halt at UFC 243 in Melbourne. Spoiling the champ’s homecoming, then-interim titleholder Adesanya showed his striking superiority by TKOing “The Reaper” in the second round.
But after taking a break from the sport and finding his love for martial arts again, Whittaker has returned to his best. In three outings since his title loss, the New Zealand-born Australian has outpointed Darren Till, Jared Cannonier, and Kelvin Gastelum. In doing so, he’s secured a shot at redemption.
But while he was comfortably outstruck and pieced up by Adesanya, an elite striker who has since outpointed Yoel Romero and Marvin Vettori, and finished Paulo Costa, Whittaker’s team are confident the necessary adjustments have been made.
During an interview with Sherdog, Coach Alex Prates discussed the constant improvements Whittaker has been making between his recent appearances. With big progress in the last year, Prates says fans should expect to see the “best Robert Whittaker” to date this weekend.
“We started to adapt a little bit. I think we learn a lot from that loss to Israel. A few things that make Rob a very dangerous opponent… I think he was coming from nine wins in a row before he lost to Adesanya. We learned a lot,” said Prates. “When you get to a level of striking, a few things, the basics, have to be astounding. So we start to change a little bit, we start to adapt… get all the fundamentals right. He got better. He got a little bit better with Darren Till, he got better with Cannonier, he got better with Gastelum.
“But the biggest improvement, I have no doubt, the biggest improvement that was made in Robert’s game was in-between the last fight with Gastelum and this fight with Adesanya,” added Prates. “He’s probably gonna be, potentially, the best Robert Whittaker you guys have ever seen.”
While a number of factors have helped Whittaker expand his weaponry and fine-tune his arsenal, Prates says one addition to the team has made him a “whole different beast” on the feet. That helping hand has come from renowned Aussie boxing trainer Johnny Lewis.
With the aid of a trainer who’s coached six world champions, Prates believes Whittaker now has what it takes to match “The Last Stylebender” punch for punch.
“He’s sharp, his hands look sharp. We are having the help of a very famous boxing coach in Australia, Mr. Johnny Lewis,” Prates continued. “He’s a guy who trained six world champions. I think Johnny is about 70… He was retired but he came back to train a bronze medalist, that won the bronze medal for Australia in Rio and became professional.
“I know Johnny for a while few a through common friends. So I asked for a favor from him to oversee Rob’s boxing for this fight and he took us on board. I’m very grateful. And the results are showing. Rob’s hands… he looks a whole different beast now,” concluded Prates.
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While Whittaker has undoubtedly improved and found the form of his life in his three fights since the crushing loss to Adesanya, whether he can hand the Nigerian-New Zealander his first defeat at middleweight is another question.
We’ll find out if he’s made enough of an adjustment on February 12.
Who do you think will leave UFC 271 with the middleweight gold, Robert Whittaker or Israel Adesanya?
Since that fight, both men have been in fine form. The champion has successfully defended his belt against Yoel Romero, Paulo Costa, and Marvin Vettori. Despite falling to his first loss in professional MMA when he attempted to challenge for Jan Blachowicz’s light heavyweight title last March, Adesanya has remained unbeaten at middleweight.
The pair will now share the Octagon for the second time inside Houston’s Toyota Center on February 12.
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Adesanya Targets “Devastating” Finish
The consensus for the clash appears to be split. While some look at Adesanya’s 2019 victory over Whittaker and expect a similar level of dominance, others have pointed to the former titleholder’s form and fight IQ and suggested he’ll be bringing a much tougher test to the champ this time around.
While some fighters may fall victim to complacency when facing an opponent they’ve already comfortably had their hand raised against, Adesanya is not worried about that.
During a recent interview with Chisanga Malata, “The Last Stylebender” suggested his desire to finish the rematch in an even more devastating way is what motivates him ahead of 2022’s second pay-per-view card.
“That’s not been the case this time (complacency after UFC 243 win),” said Adesanya. “It’s actually made me more motivated to do it again and do it more decisively, if that’s even possible, which it is. That’s what my motivation is for this fight, that’s what got me up for this fight, was to do it again, and (in a) more devastating fashion.”
According to Whittaker, Adesanya’s latest defense against Vettori proved he was beatable at middleweight. The New Zealand-born Australian will hope to prove that to be the case when his chance for redemption arrives next weekend.
Who do you think will leave UFC 271 with the middleweight gold, Israel Adesanya or Robert Whittaker?
Fight week for UFC 271 has arrived, and arguably the most significant rematch in middleweight history lurks in the shadows.
At UFC 271, Robert Whittaker will seek redemption when he faces the only man to defeat him in five years and who broke his undefeated middleweight record: Israel Adesanya.
Whittaker did not only lose to Adesanya, but he also suffered only the second knockout in his 13-year MMA career in the defeat. Whittaker has since rebounded with three straight wins, but full redemption will not be had until he returns the favor and hands Adesanya his first loss in the middleweight division as well.
In the co-main event, we have a party that is all but guaranteed to be a knockout. This primetime bash will feature KO king Derrick Lewis taking on notorious banger Tai Tuivasa. You won’t want to blink in this one to find out who will literally be the last man standing after these heavyweight powers collide.
“For me, it’s all about the feeling, the feeling that I give people when I fight.” – Israel Adesanya
Israel Adesanya, Image Credit: Mark J. Rebilas/USA TODAY Sports
In the Countdown video, Israel Adesanya walks the viewers through his psychology and motivation heading into the rematch against Robert Whittaker. Viewers are left well assured that Adesanya’s fire remains bright and is truly equipped to burn down yet another house.
“This next fight will be the biggest box to tick.” – Robert Whittaker
Robert Whittaker
Robert Whittaker has defeated everyone placed in front of him during his illustrious UFC career—except but one man. The Countdown video takes viewers through the resurrection of The Reaper and how his evolution has rebuilt a man who let the pressure lead to his collapse in their initial clash.
“It’s cool to have the most knockouts in UFC history. All these greats that came here before me, and they didn’t achieve what I did.” – Derrick Lewis
Derrick Lewis, Credit: AP Photo/John Locher
In the Countdown video, the knockout king is praised for his record-setting ways, but not unlike Robert Whittaker, “The Black Beast” is also in hot pursuit of redemption. After losing badly in his hometown to Ciryl Gane last year in one of the biggest fights of his career, Lewis will hope to ring in a much happier ending in his second homecoming within the past six months.
“I got a lot of respect for Derrick. I was growing up watching him. I just think it’s the passing of the torch now. Hand it over to me.” – Tai Tuivasa
Tai Tuivasa, Image Credit: Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC
The Countdown video highlights Tai Tuivasa’s growth as a well-rounded mixed martial artist, which has led to “Bam Bam” winning four straight fights. However, it is also acknowledged that this is one fight where “well-roundedness” likely won’t be required.
UFC 271 takes place this Saturday, February 12, 2022, from the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas. You can find the full card and viewing information below followed by the UFC 271 Countdown video.
UFC 271 Main Card (ESPN+ PPV, 10:00 PM ET)
UFC Middleweight Championship Bout: Israel Adesanya (c) vs. Robert Whittaker
The following story was published on this day three years ago. It is presented to you in its original, unaltered form, courtesy of The MMA News Archives.
On This Day Three Years Ago…
[ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED FEBRUARY 6, 2019, 9:11 PM]
Headline: Jon Jones Dispels Israel Adesanya Comparisons
Israel Adesanya has been receiving a lot of comparisons to his upcoming opponent, Anderson Silva, as of late. However, there’s also another name he has been compared to quite often recently. That name being UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones.
Speaking to the UFC recently, Jones addressed the recent comparisons to “Stylebender”. Other than their frame and the color of their skin, Jones doesn’t really believe there are too many similarities (via MMA Mania):
“We have similar body types and we’re both black,” Jones said. “And that’s about it. I don’t think we fight alike, I don’t think we fight similar. I do a lot of wrestling, heavy ground-and-pound, a lot of submissions – I strike in both stances, I feel like our games are very different.
“But I do respect him, a lot. I think he is going to be a force to be reckoned with. He is great for the sport, great talker and he finishes fights. He is a very exciting young man.”
Adesanya will take on Silva in the co-main event of this weekend’s (Sat. February 9, 2019) UFC 234 pay-per-view (PPV) from the Rod Laver Arena in Melbourne, Australia. As for Jones, he will be defending his championship in the main event of UFC 235. That PPV goes down from the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada on March 2, 2019.
What do you think about Jones’ reaction to comparisons to Adesanya?
UFC middleweight contender Robert Whittaker has detailed how the media tone leading up to UFC 243 played a part in his defeat to Israel Adesanya.
Whittaker and Adesanya are currently gearing up for their long-awaited rematch. The pair first collided inside Melbourne’s Marvel Stadium in 2019. At the time, “The Reaper” sat on the middleweight throne and was riding a nine-fight, five-year win streak that included victories over Yoel Romero, Ronaldo Souza, Derek Brunson, and Uriah Hall.
Following his devastating loss to Adesanya, Whittaker admitted he’d been suffering mentally and from burn-out and would be taking an extended layoff from the sport of MMA.
Now, as a revitalized and motivated fighter, the New Zealand-born Australian has looked back on his only setback in his last 13 Octagon outings and assessed what created the overwhelming emotion that proved to be his downfall.
During a recent appearance on Submission Radio, Whittaker discussed the effect the media narratives and tone had on his mindset and performance. According to “The Reaper,” the enhanced Australia vs. New Zealand rivalry and a number of other scenarios meant his ego “got away” on him.
“The thing is, I think it was just an accumulative effect. It was an effect that was just making everything much harder than it should have been, or making things affect me a lot more than they would have, because of the ego,” said Whittaker. “I think, we all have egos, and I think in places and in quantities, I think ego is a good thing, especially for fighters. We’re fighting with people; people are trying to take away what’s ours.
“But I think it got away a little bit on me, just because of the media, and because of, I guess, the scenario, and the situations, and atmosphere; the tone the media was selling to the fans of this rivalry between Australia and New Zealand, the tone about the arena and of fighting at home, and of this, and of that. It just got a bit much, that’s all,” concluded Whittaker.
Having delivered three impressive performances since returning to the Octagon in 2020, including main event wins against Darren Till and Kelvin Gastelum, Whittaker has certainly been back to his best and has also been sporting a visibly relaxed mindset and attitude ahead of his chance for redemption.
It remains to be seen if that’ll be enough for him to add the first blemish to Adesanya’s middleweight record when they meet in the Toyota Center on February 12.
Do you think a revitalized and motivated Robert Whittaker can dethrone Israel Adesanya at UFC 271?
UFC middleweight Sean Strickland is hoping to secure a title shot and the opportunity to “make fun” of champion Israel Adesanya’s swollen pectoral muscle during the build-up to it.
Strickland, the current #7-ranked contender at 185 pounds, will have the chance to jump towards a championship opportunity this weekend at UFC Vegas 47. In his second consecutive main event on MMA’s biggest stage, “Tarzan” will face Swedish-born Norwegian Jack Hermansson.
Having defeated Jack Marshman, Brendan Allen, Krzysztof Jotko, and Uriah Hall since his return to action in 2020, Strickland will hope to add the elite name of “The Joker” to his record inside Las Vegas’ Apex and, in doing so, further climb the middleweight ladder.
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While some fighters’ pursuit of gold derives from the desire to build a legacy, provide for their family, and establish their dominance in the sport of MMA, Strickland’s championship aspirations rest heavily on his enjoyment of making fun of Adesanya’s swollen right pectoral muscle.
During UFC Vegas 47 media day on Wednesday, Strickland discussed his chances of earning a title shot with a victory this Saturday. While winning the belt isn’t crucial to him, the opportunity to go back-and-forth with “The Last Stylebender” during fight week is certainly an exciting prospect for the North Carolina native.
“I mean, ideally, Brunson beats Cannonier and maybe, if I can do an impressive performance and, you know, dump and dodge and get a title shot; that would be the perfect world,” said Strickland. “But at the end of the day man, I’m just here to fight and make some money. If I get a title shot, fuck yeah, let’s go. I’ll make fun of Stylebender’s fucking titty all day long.”
Strickland Has Consistently Accused Adesanya Of Steroid Usage
The medical term for swelling in male breast tissue is Gynecomastia. The condition can be caused by a host of different factors, such as drugs and alcohol consumption, some medications, and a number of herbal products. One of the more well-known triggers is the use of anabolic steroids, an accusation many directed at Adesanya. Those detractors include Strickland.
“I mean, Israel’s just a crafty motherfucker,” Strickland told combat sports journalist Helen Yee. “Like, don’t get me wrong, we all know he does steroids, and that probably helps his performance. We all seen him fight with the titty that hung down. I mean, have you ever seen a man fight in the UFC with gyno from weed? I mean, look at Nate Diaz; if that was the case, Nate Diaz would have tits down to his knees. Get out of here with this.”
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Given Strickland’s accusations and attacks on Adesanya in recent months, it’s hard to imagine the level of trash talk the rising contender would bring to the current middleweight king during a fight week or at a press conference if he makes his way into the title picture soon.
Would you like to see Sean Strickland and Israel Adesanya share the Octagon together in the near future?
Israel Adesanya is apparently feeling the nerves ahead of his middleweight title fight against Robert Whittaker at UFC 271.
Adesanya and Whittaker first fought back at UFC 243 where “The Last Stylebender” won by second-round TKO to claim the middleweight title. He has since defended the belt three times. But this time around, Dan Hooker, a teammate of Adesanya, says the champ is a bit nervous. (h/t Sportskeeda)
“He’s good. He’s definitely in a good place,” Hooker said to LowKick MMA about Adesanya. “From the interactions that I’ve had with him… I guess with the rematch, especially the way that the first fight went, you can kind of – not necessarily underestimate your opponent – but you can take it a little bit lightly because you know you put on such a dominant performance right there. It might be hard to get up for the training but it’s not like that. Like he said to me this morning, he said, ‘You know I’m nervous.’
That’s good, you know. He’s got that nervous energy, which you need.”
Robert Whittaker (left) and Israel Adesanya go toe to toe during UFC 243 at Marvel Stadium. Photograph: Michael Dodge/EPA
Although Adesanya said he is a bit nervous, as Hooker says, it is a good thing. Most fighters get nervous before they walk out as it is a fistfight and anything can happen. But as “The Hangman” says, Adesanya uses his nervous energy in a good way.
Israel Adesanya is coming off a decision win over Marvin Vettori back at UFC 263 to defend his belt for the third time. It also marked his return to the win column after losing to Jan Blachowicz for the light heavyweight belt at UFC 259, which was his first pro-MMA loss.
As for Hooker, he’s set to drop back down to featherweight to take on Arnold Allen at UFC London on March 19.
What do you make of Israel Adesanya telling Dan Hooker he’s nervous ahead of Robert Whittaker rematch?
Daniel Cormier thinks UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya is great, but not to the level of Anderson Silva yet as some fans think.
Adesanya is set to face former champion Robert Whittaker in a rematch at UFC 271. Since he first earned the title over Whittaker, he’s defended his belt against Paulo Costa, Yoel Romero, and Marvin Vettori in dominant performances.
“No. Dude, Anderson Silva existed. Anderson Silva existed. Like, I don’t get this recency bias that fans have,” Cormier said during a recent episode of DC&RC. “Honestly RC, I think the word ‘GOAT’ gets thrown around way too easy in fight sports. The only person that doesn’t get passed is Muhammad Ali and there have been some really impressive fighters, but people recognize what Muhammad Ali was. Anderson Silva was to MMA what Muhammad Ali was to boxing. No, [Israel Adesanya] has some work to do to catch Anderson.” (h/t SportsKeeda)
Silva is arguably the greatest UFC fighter of all time, regardless of weight class. His run as the middleweight champion was a spectacle that has arguably yet to be replicated.
Adesanya defeated Silva at UFC 234 when Silva was arguably years past his prime. Following his losses to Chris Weidman, Silva was never quite able to repeat the magic that he created as the middleweight king.
Adesanya’s lone blemish on his UFC record came against Jan Blachowicz at UFC 259 for the light heavyweight belt. While he had his fair share of moments on the feet, Blachowicz used his grappling and size to smother Adesanya in the later rounds.
Adesanya certainly has the potential to be an all-time great, but Cormier thinks he has some work to do to warrant that distinction.
Do you agree with Daniel Cormier regarding Israel Adesanya?
UFC middleweight contender Robert Whittaker has revealed what he believes was the biggest mistake he made against Israel Adesanya at UFC 243.
Midway through 2019, Whittaker held the 185-pound gold and hadn’t been beaten since a loss to Stephen Thompson in 2014. In his nine-fight win streak, “The Reaper” defeated the likes of Brad Tavares, Uriah Hall, Derek Brunson, and Ronaldo Souza; won the interim title against Yoel Romero, after which he was promoted to undisputed king; and defeated the Cuban powerhouse for the second time.
Adesanya, meanwhile, defeated Brunson, Tavares, Marvin Vettori, and Anderson Silva on his way to an interim title shot earlier in the year. In a Fight of the Year contender, he defeated Kelvin Gastelum, setting up a unification showdown with Whittaker at UFC 243.
Given Whittaker’s prior performances, the way in which Adesanya was able to dispatch him came as quite a shock. But following a break from the sport, the New Zealand-born Australian returned with a vengeance.
Having comfortably defeated Darren Till, Jared Cannonier, and Gastelum on the scorecards since losing his title, three of the best performances of his career, Whittaker has earned his shot at redemption. And he believes he’s rectified the mistakes that led to his downfall in October 2019.
During a recent interview with MMA Junkie’s Farah Hannoun, Whittaker was asked whether he’s identified the greatest error he made against Adesanya. Aside from getting hit very hard in the face, “The Reaper” named his reckless attitude in the Octagon as the leading cause for his loss.
“Getting hit in the face [LAUGHS]. Definitely that one. Probably my recklessness,” said Whittaker. “I was recklessly charging in, I was falling into every one of his baits, every one of his traps, and just, you know, stubbornly just trying to press forward, press the attack, and rip his head off. That’s what was going through my head, and yeah, it didn’t work.
“That’s not how I usually fight. You don’t see me fight like that in a lot of other fights,” added Whittaker. “So I have addressed it, I’ve reflected on it, and we’re gonna try and get in there and do something different this next time.”
Now with the second fight set, Adesanya isn’t going to be coming in with the same tactics that caught Whittaker the first time. No, he has a whole new set of skills that he will be utilizing.
“Rob’s going to be in shock,” Adesanya told Combat TV (via MMA Junkie.) “He’s going to be in for a rude awakening when he feels me because the first time we didn’t clinch. I hope to clinch with him this time because every time they do it and they realize, ‘Oh he’s a lot stronger than –’ they all say that. They think they know how strong I am until they feel me, then they’re like, ‘Oh sh*t.’”
“I’m not going to fight him the way I fought him the first time, and I know he’s not going to fight me the way he fought me the first time,” Adesanya said. “He’s a silly boy. If he thinks he has someone else’s blueprint to beat me, he’s a silly man. But his team’s smart, so that’s why I take him seriously. It’s because of his team. He, himself, he’s a silly boy.”
Adesanya is undefeated at middleweight in his professional MMA career. His only loss came when he tried to go up and take the light heavyweight belt from Jan Blachowicz unsuccessfully. As the #3 pound-for-pound fighter in the world and at 32 years old, Adesanya is just getting started in the UFC.
Do you think Israel Adesanya will be able to defeat Robert Whittaker again at UFC 271?
Israel Adesanya is not worried about Robert Whittaker’s game plan.
Israel Adesanya is preparing for a rematch with Robert Whittaker as the main event of the upcoming UFC 271 card. Adesanya holds a win over Whittaker from the first time these two met back in 2019. Now that Whittaker is finally getting his chance at revenge, Adesanya is urging him to come up with a new plan without trying to copy others’ homework.
“My prediction is that I am going to f*ck Whittaker up, again,” Adesanya told MMA Fighting. “He can’t stand with me, so I know he will be forced to grapple. Last time he said Kevin Gastelum has given the blueprint on how to beat Adesanya,’ and now he’s saying ‘Jan has given the blueprint’…. he needs to write his own blueprint. If he wants to copy someone else’s work, then by all means try, because it went so well last time for him when we fought.
“Whittaker may have learned from his mistakes from last time for maybe a round or so, but then trust me, he will revert back to those errors,” he said. “Once he feels what he felt last time, he won’t know where to turn. Also, he didn’t even grapple with me last time, he didn’t really feel me. You can ask any of my previous opponents, they will tell you. So once he feels me in a grapple, then he will get shook again.”
Grappling may come into play during this fight as Adesanya predicted, but it would be a change for Whittaker. In his first eight professional fights, Whittaker finished six of them by way of submission. Since then, he has not claimed one submission victory. Also of note, Adesanya has never finished on the ground and instead holds 15 KO/TKO victories in his career.
Do you think Robert Whittaker can take Adesanya down and win this fight at UFC 271?
Derek Brunson is ready to step into the title fight at UFC 271.
Derek Brunson has his next matchup all set to go, as he will be taking on Jared Cannonier at UFC 271 next weekend. That matchup could potentially decide the next title contender. However, Brunson may not need to wait that long.
The bout between Brunson and Cannonier was originally slated for UFC 270 that took place in January. The fight was switched to Feb 12. card at the last minute, and Brunson has now explained why he believes that is.
“The UFC, I think they just wanted backups for the title fight in case someone went down, got injured, they have two guys, ’85-ers, #3- and #4-ranked guys that can jump in for a title shot,” Brunson said.
Brunson is coming into this fight at UFC 271 having won his last five in the middleweight division. He is ranked fourth behind Cannonier, Marvin Vettori, and Whittaker. Even though he is ranked behind Cannonier, he could very well be the one to fill in since Cannonier recently lost to Whittaker. This is all subject to something going wrong with either Adesanya or Whittaker on that day. Either way, Brunson will be ready if his name is called.
“For sure, I have been waiting for an opportunity, five in a row, I’ve been waiting for that title shot. So if the opportunity comes up, for sure,” he explained.
Being able to jump right into a title fight situation would be ideal for Brunson. It would save him the trouble of having to beat Cannonier, which is a steep task. Cannonier is 3-1 in his last four, and since making his debut at middleweight, he has only lost to the former champ Whittaker. Cannonier holds wins over names like Anderson Silva and Kelvin Gastelum.
How do you think Brunson would fare against either Adesanya or Whittaker in a fill-in situation?
Adesanya’s ongoing dominance has taken him full circle to “The Reaper.” Since losing his title, Whittaker has been in the form of life. Across 18 rounds of action, he put his fluent striking on full display in headlining wins Against Darren Till and Kelvin Gastelum, and a pay-per-view co-main event victory over Jared Cannonier.
The stage is now set for a blockbuster rematch, which will go down inside Houston’s Toyota Center on February 12.
Everything is bigger in Texas, and this one is going to be 𝐌𝐀𝐒𝐒𝐈𝐕𝐄 🔥
Despite the convincing ending to their first fight, many are expecting a rejuvenated Whittaker to provide a much stiffer test for Adesanya this time around. One man who disagrees with that sentiment is top-10 middleweight Strickland, who expects the champion to “starch” the New Zealand-born Australian.
But while the charismatic and controversial contender’s prediction is partly due to Adesanya’s undeniable talent inside the Octagon, “Tarzan” also believes the Nigerian-New Zealander gets a helping hand from steroids, an accusation he’s made in the past.
“I mean, Israel’s just a crafty motherfucker,” Strickland told combat sports journalist Helen Yee. “Like, don’t get me wrong, we all know he does steroids, and that probably helps his performance. We all seen him fight with the titty that hung down. I mean, have you ever seen a man fight in the UFC with gyno from weed? I mean, look at Nate Diaz; if that was the case, Nate Diaz would have tits down too is knees. Get out of here with this.
“So, anyways, back to him and Whittaker. Izzy is a great striker; he comes from a steroid background of kickboxing,” added Strickland. “I think he’s gonna starch Whittaker, cause he is a great fighter.”
The medical term for swelling in male breast tissue is Gynecomastia. The condition can be can be caused by a wide variety of factors, including drugs and alcohol, some medications, and even herbal products. One of the more well-known triggers is the use of anabolic steroids, an accusation many directed at Adesanya following the September 2020 pay-per-view.
That answer is clearly not a convincing one for Sean Strickland…
Photo by Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC
Despite having the first defeat of his professional MMA career added to his record last March thanks to a failed venture to light heavyweight, Adesanya has continued to look unthreatened at 185 pounds.
UFC middleweight Alex Pereira says he made champion Israel Adesanya cry after knocking him out during their time competing in Glory Kickboxing.
Pereira is coming off an impressive UFC debut at UFC 268, as he finished Andreas Michailidis with a flying knee and punches in Round 2. Pereira, a former multi-division kickboxing world champion, signed with the UFC last year in a full-time transition to MMA.
To go along with his incredible combat accolades, he’s also the only man ever to finish Adesanya in any sport. He defeated Adesanya via unanimous decision in 2016 before knocking him out in the rematch in 2017 at Glory of Heroes 7.
“I don’t know if with his friends, right, with the people close to him, he’s that arrogant guy, that annoying guy, because every time I met the guy, it was all that arrogance, that ego, he was always like that,” Pereira said. “Since our first fight in China, he was a guy who pissed me off a lot, from the weigh-in to the fight. Even losing, when there was the rematch here in Brazil he made a post that I don’t really remember, but it was something like ‘I’ll have to beat Pereira in his backyard and then run out of the favela’. It was something like that, right?
“I only saw him at the weigh-in and the fight. After the fight I saw him crying outside in Ibirapuera. Sitting on a low wall with his trainer – that’s it.” (h/t SportsKeeda)
Pereira and Adesanya could be on a collision course once again in the UFC. Adesanya will face former champion Robert Whittaker in a rematch at UFC 271, but the door remains open in the middleweight title picture.
Adesanya has also previously said that he expects to meet Pereira once again, this time in the Octagon.
If Pereira can continue his winning ways, he could earn the opportunity to defeat Adesanya for the third time. But this time, Adesanya will have more tools at his disposal in MMA.
Do you think we’ll see Alex Pereira vs. Israel Adesanya in the UFC?
Dana White, Francis Ngannou Photo Credit: Heidi Craig / USATSI CBS Sports
With a list of outstanding achievements on his record and currently being on a 5-fight win streak, the 16-3-0 fighter has simply felt underappreciated.
The results of UFC 270 may have no impact on the fighter’s stance with his current contract, but it could be possible to see just one more fight if Ngannou gets his wish.
One thing that could help make this possible would be if that fight were to take place in Africa. Francis Ngannou has always shown pride in his African roots, and with the support of other African-born champions, he could possibly bring his dream to fruition.
In an exclusive interview with Stake, Ngannou touched on his dream bout in Africa and making it a reality in the UFC:
“It is a big dream to fight in Cameroon, but I also know it will be very hard to make a reality at this point. However, I believe eventually we will figure out a way to make it happen to fight for our people. It’s very important to each of us – myself, Israel and Usman. Ideally with the UFC, but even without the UFC that is going to happen one day.”
On January 22, Francis Ngannou has the opportunity to add “defending heavyweight champion” to his stellar résumé. The battle against his former sparring partner and Interim Heavyweight Champion Ciryl Gane at UFC 270 is widely considered to be one of the greatest heavyweight matches of all time.
Francis Ngannou’s path after the UFC is sure to deliver more headlining performances. And perhaps after UFC 270, regardless of the outcome, Ngannou fans will see his next bout in Africa.
Do you think the UFC will ever consider an event in Africa?
Renowned MMA journalist Ariel Helwani has discussed the possibility of a mass departure of the UFC’s top stars taking place in the promotion this year.
With the success of celebrity boxing, among other factors, the sport of MMA has moved into a climate where fighter pay is at the forefront of the agenda.
Since then, however, the UFC has chosen to increase pay-per-view prices and keep the lesser-regarded fighters in the promotion on as low as $12,000 per fight.
With the UFC also distributing one of the lowest percentages of its profits to its athletes among the top sports leagues and companies in the United States, it’s no surprise some stars believe they’re owed more, both in terms of money and treatment.
Still, despite the criticism on the matter, White maintains the debate is as simple as ‘it’s only bad if you lose’.
In recent months and years, we’ve seen the likes of Jon Jones express their dismay at the money they’re receiving. In response to Jones requesting more remuneration to face Francis Ngannou in what would have arguably been one of the biggest fights in history, the UFC seemingly abandoned plans for the showdown, leading to Jones spending the entirety of 2021 on the sidelines.
The last I spoke with @UFC about my salary there was no negotiating. If that ever changes, i’d love to come back and compete again as a heavyweight. Until then, I’ll be enjoying Ufc has a fan and doing my best to take care of my family and community https://t.co/NoTTpRTMH0
With that in mind, it’s no surprise that talk of a number of stars moving into free agency instead of signing new contracts has hit the surface. This year, we could see Ngannou, Israel Adesanya, Nate Diaz, and Conor McGregor all complete the final bouts on their active deals.
In a recent episode of The MMA Hour, host Helwani discussed the possibility of those names choosing to test the waters of free agency rather than re-sign with the UFC.
“That’s another interesting story to follow in 2022, Israel Adesanya’s contract. Not quite at the point of Nathan (Diaz’s), I think there’s a couple (fights) left, but that’s an interesting one to follow. Could you imagine in 2022, we are facing a potential scenario where Izzy might reach the end of his contract, Diaz reaches the end of his contract, Conor McGregor reaches the end of his contract, Francis Ngannou reaches the end of his contract. Think about that for a second. Think about how big those names are. Think about the power that they have. It could be fascinating times.”
As Helwani later pointed out, the UFC usually re-signs its fighters before they reach the final appearance on their contracts. While the unranked Charles Jourdain recently dipped his toes into the market before choosing to sign another UFC deal, Helwani questioned the impact it would have if the biggest stars in the promotion chose to follow suit.
“The brilliance of the UFC is they don’t let the fighters get to the end because they know they wanna lock them up before they get to the end, before they’re able to test those waters, those free-agent waters. But what if they want to? What if they play their cards right and they get to the point where they can? Fascinating times.”
Ngannou Could Depart The UFC If He Loses At UFC 270
The biggest contractual story in the UFC right now surrounds the status of UFC Heavyweight Champion Francis Ngannou. Remarkably, “The Predator” is heading into a blockbuster unification title fight against Ciryl Gane at UFC 270 with a possible departure from the promotion looming.
If Ngannou loses on January 22, he will be out of contract and free to take his power elsewhere. If he wins, he’ll be contractually obliged to defend the title again.
With an increasing number of fighters now questioning their pay and contracts in comparison to the likes of YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul, one of the promotion’s top champions potentially about to fight out his deal, and a number of the UFC’s top stars one or two fights away from a similar situation, will we see a new tone set in regards to testing free agency before re-signing? Only time will tell.
Do you think we could see some UFC stars fight out their contracts and explore free agency in the near future?
Undisputed UFC Heavyweight Champion Francis Ngannou and interim champ Ciryl Gane are continuing to talk about each other’s fighting style leading up to their main event.
Thursday on his YouTube channel, Ngannou was asked about middleweight champion Israel Adesanya’s fighting style, to which Ngannou responded by taking a jab at Gane. Ngannou compared the two’s similar kickboxing styles and stated that Adesanya is a better version of Gane.
“He’s (Adesanya) a great guy, the best striker in the game, definitely,” said Ngannou. “Because when you look at his style, he just does everything that Ciryl does but in a better way.”
Ngannou stated that he even tried to get Adesanya to come help train with him in preparations of facing a kick-boxing-styled heavyweight in Gane. Ngannou claims that the reason he couldn’t get “The Last Stylebender” over was due to the strict travel restrictions where Adesanya resides in New Zealand.
“By the way, I (tried) to get him for this training camp, but travel restrictions with New Zealand wasn’t really helpful for us,” said Ngannou “But he would have loved to come here and help me for the striking part of the game, the footwork and everything.”
Gane and Adesanya are some of the highest-leveled kickboxers in the UFC, with names like Stephen Thompson, Joanna Jędrzejczyk, Valentina Schevchenko, and many others being up there with them.
Ngannou and Gane are just a few weeks away from finally fighting for the heavyweight championship, which will be held on January 22nd. Ngannou (16-3) will be looking to make his first title defense since securing UFC gold when he KO’d Stipe Miocic at UFC 260. As for Gane, he will be looking to take the word “interim” off of his current title and become the undisputed heavyweight king with a win over Ngannou.
Who do you think has the better kickboxing style between Ciryl Gane and Israel Adesanya?
UFC Middleweight Champion Israel Adesanya wants fans to know his value.
The champ’s return to the cage was announced by the UFC earlier this month. The promotion said Saturday that Adesanya is currently scheduled to meet Robert Whittaker in a rematch at UFC 271. However, a cryptic tweet of the baseball cap emoji from Adesanya, signaling the phrase “cap,” a slang term for “lying,” made people wonder if the fight will happen after all.
The current champ took to social media Monday to urge fans that they should watch him fight live if they ever have the opportunity.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CXbuCUNPUbC/
“I said it years ago, if you had a chance to go watch me fight live locally you should have,” said Adesanya via Instagram. “I’m saying it again, if you have a chance to watch me fight live anywhere on earth…do so!! I’ve had well over a hundred fights and I don’t feel like I’ve lost a step. I’ve gained more understanding for the game at 32 years young as a martial artist.”
Adesanya’s combat sports career has already been thorough thus far, spanning multiple styles and taking place across the globe. Along with his MMA career of over 20 fights, Adesanya has fought as a pro in kickboxing and boxing.
Image Credit: Carmen Mandato/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images
While Adesanya highlighted his experience of over 100 appearances between MMA, kickboxing and boxing, he doesn’t see himself leaving combat sports anytime soon. He also hyped up his future fights, claiming his fights will be remembered for decades to come.
“My appearances in the octagon for the next few years will be something you will wanna tell your grandkids about being there live!! Watching me dismantle foe after foe leaving bodies everywhere I go. So yea…I’m “looking for a fight!” as they say.”
Adesanya’s MMA record currently has just one blemish through 22 appearances. He defended his belt for the third time earlier this year, going five rounds against Marvin Vettori for a decision win. As we head into 2022, it’ll be exciting to see what history “The Last Stylebender” has in store for fight fans.
Do you think the best has yet to come for UFC Champion Israel Adesanya?
UFC Middleweight Champion Israel Adesanya has praised undisputed light middleweight boxing titleholder Claressa Shields for making the transition to MMA.
Shields is widely regarded as one of, if not the greatest female boxer of all time. The 26-year-old has held multiple world championships across three weight classes and holds the record for achieving two and three-division title glory in the fewest amount of professional fights.
The undefeated Michigan native, who won back-to-back Olympic gold medals at the London and Rio games, has entered the ring 11 times as a pro, with gold being on the line on every occasion beyond her debut. Unlike most, success inside the squared circle wasn’t the end of Shields’ combat sports ambition.
While the same issues on the ground were present in her sophomore appearance, this time, she wasn’t able to mount a comeback. Against Abigail Montes At PFL 10, Shields fell to her first defeat as a professional in combat sports.
Adesanya Praises Shields For Trying “Real Fighting”
Shields is now set to turn her attention back to the sport of Boxing. On January 29, she’s set to put her WBA, WBC, IBF, and The Ring middleweight titles on the line against Slovenia’s Ema Kozin. But she’s insisted her journey in MMA is far from over, something the UFC’s middleweight king certainly respects.
In the latest episode of his UFC 271 Fight Camp vlog series, Adesanya lauded Shields for adding more disciplines to her game. According to “The Last Stylebender,” the 26-year-old is doing something most boxers are too afraid to do—try their hand at “real fighting.”
“People don’t understand. How do you think I’m a fucking world champion? With just one discipline? Fuck no! I know how to fight. I could’ve been a fucking boxer. Done the whole blueprint like I said. Same as a kickboxer. But I humble myself when I realized I want to be a full-fledged fighter, so I humble myself and I learn. I tell you one thing, Claressa Shields has got more ovaries than all you boxers have balls. ‘Cause she actually humbled herself as well and ventured into real fighting.” (h/t Sportskeeda)
Despite her setback, the message from Shields has been, “It’s not over.” She’ll now look to re-enter the win column by extending her unbeaten record and continuing her dominance in the boxing ring. If she does, it stands to reason we’ll be seeing “T-Rex” back in the cage later in 2022.
Do you agree with Israel Adesanya? Should Claressa Shields be praised for making the crossover to MMA?
UFC middleweight Marvin Vettori has responded to compliments from Michael Bisping about his championship credentials, promising that he’ll be the one to dethrone “PED user” Israel Adesanya.
Vettori has already failed to strip Adesanya of his gold on one occasion and failed to have his hand raised at two attempts against “The Last Stylebender.” After falling to a split decision to the Nigerian-New Zealander in 2018 when both were relatively new to the UFC, “The Italian Dream” fought his way to the top, earning a title shot following victories over Karl Roberson, Jack Hermansson, and Kevin Holland.
In the UFC 263 main event in June this year, Vettori re-visited his rivalry with Adesanya. While he was able to take the champ the 25-minute distance, which was more than both Robert Whittaker and Paulo Costa had managed, the 28-year-old was comfortably beaten on the scorecards.
But the Trento native’s hopes of returning to contention couldn’t have gotten off to a better start. After showing his toughness by accepting a light heavyweight clash against an overweight Costa, Vettori put his power and chin on full display across five rounds with “The Eraser” at UFC Vegas 41. Thanks to a pressing volume and some clean lands, Vettori jumped to #2 in the rankings with a unanimous decision victory over the Brazilian.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CViXkVCrsEi/
Discussing that performance during a recent Q&A on his YouTube channel, Bisping, a former 185-pound titleholder and current color commentator, suggested Vettori would be the current middleweight king if it wasn’t for the presence of Adesanya.
“If it wasn’t for Israel Adesanya right now, he’d (Vettori) be the champ, definitely… He’s the next best guy at 185 in my opinion, he’s doing tremendous things. I’m a friend of Marvin’s, I think he’s tremendous. That fight he had against Paulo Costa was sensational. I called that fight, I was right there, he won that fight fair and square but Paulo Costa had a lot of success and some of the shots that Marvin ate, some of those kicks and punches and the power that Costa has, Marvin took every single fucking one of them.” (h/t Sportskeeda)
Vettori Responds With A Promise
Upon seeing Bisping’s take, Vettori took to Twitter to respond. After showing his appreciation for “The Count,” the top contender made a promise. He assured Bisping that he’ll still be the one to end Adesanya’s reign, despite failing to do so six months ago.
“Appreciate it @Bisping Im still gonna show you I will dethrone this PED user very soon.”
While he undoubtedly impressed in his last outing and established himself as one of the top contenders, it’ll likely be a while until Vettori has another chance at having middleweight gold wrapped around his waist.
UFC Hall of Famer Michael Bisping has called for UFC Welterweight Champion Kamaru Usman and middleweight king Israel Adesanya to fight, despite being compatriots.
Usman and Adesanya are two of three African champions reigning over divisions in the UFC right now, the other being Francis Ngannou. The pair have been dominant since reaching their respective mountaintops, accumulating a combined eight title defenses.
“The Nigerian Nightmare,” who boasts a perfect 14-0 promotional record, has seen off the challenge of Gilbert Burns and two each from Jorge Masvidal and Colby Covington since his title-winning performance against Tyron Woodley in 2019.
“The Last Stylebender,” meanwhile, has defended his gold against Yoel Romero, Paulo Costa, and Marvin Vettori since dethroning Robert Whittaker at UFC 243 two-and-a-half years ago. He’s also had a failed pursuit of two-division glory, with Jan Blachowicz adding the first blemish on his professional MMA record earlier this year.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CT_4mMXvfhN/
Bisping Says Adesanya Needs “Fresh Meat”
With both men dominating, the pool of contenders is certainly thinning, especially for the Nigerian-New Zealander. While Usman has the likes of Leon Edwards, Vicente Luque, and Khamzat Chimaev likely to challenge for the belt in the near future, Adesanya has beaten most top contenders at 185 pounds.
The middleweight titleholder is set to run it back with Robert Whittaker early next year, but beyond that, aside from the winner of Derek Brunson vs. Jared Cannonier, it’s looking like slim pickings for Adesanya. With that in mind, Michael Bisping believes “The Last Stylebender” needs some “fresh meat” from below.
“I think Usman Just needs to step up and fight fucking Israel Adesanya. I know they’re both from fucking Nigeria, right? So fucking what? So what? I don’t care. I don’t know how many people live in Nigeria, I’m going to guess 75 million. If Adesanya continues to lap everybody and certainly if he beats Robert Whitaker, he needs fresh meat. If Kamaru continues to win, c’mon! C’mon!” (h/t Sportskeeda)
While Usman has already firmly shut down the idea of fighting his fellow Nigerian, both men are seemingly going to be pre-occupied for the first two quarters of 2022 anyway. While Adesanya looks to record a second victory over “The Reaper,” Usman will likely be making his next defense in the first half of the year, potentially opposite former opponent Edwards.
But if both men continue their dominance, perhaps the idea of a dream Usman vs. Adesanya clash will be re-visited.
How do you think a fight between Kamaru Usman and Israel Adesanya would play out?
Askar Askarov is calling for a fight with Kai Kara-France.
Fresh off his UFC 269 victory, Kai Kara-France is flying high in the UFC flyweight division. He just knocked out former UFC bantamweight champion Cody Garbrandt and is now looking for a shot at the title. However, while Kara-France has title aspirations, there is someone else who would like to take a shot at him, and that man is Askar Askarov.
Askarov took to Twitter on Wednesday to make a call out to Kara-France. However, the way that Askarov took his shot was to target middleweight champion and Kara-France’s friend, Israel Adesanya. Now, he is asking Adesanya to get him a shot at Kara-France.
@stylebender give your son some encouragement you’re a great champion show him how is done if he can beat me no one can deny him @kaikarafrance don’t be chicken
“@stylebender give your son some encouragement you’re a great champion show him how is done if he can beat me no one can deny him,” Askarov wrote. “@kaikarafrance don’t be chicken.”
Following his big win at UFC 269, Kara-France is only looking at the title. He wants an immediate shot at Moreno and could be willing to sit out until he gets it. Before appealing to Adesanya for his assistance, Askarov tried to entice Kara-France into a fight directly.
@kaikarafrance I want to give you a chance to fight contender fight I am number 2 you are number 6 let’s see if anybody from your country can beat anyone from Dagestan we all know what happened last time
“@kaikarafrance I want to give you a chance to fight contender fight I am number 2 you are number 6 let’s see if anybody from your country can beat anyone from Dagestan we all know what happened last time,” Askarov wrote.
It is yet to be seen if this method of matchmaking on the part of Askarov will work. At this time, Kara-France and his team have not responded. However, this fight makes sense for both and could be a possible Fight of the Night contender.
Do you want to see Askar Askarov take on Kai Kara-France?
Sean Strickland has absolutely unloaded on Israel Adesanya.
Sean Strickland has spent 2021 making waves. The UFC middleweight is on a five-fight win streak and has been slowly moving his way up the rankings over the last few years. But his in-cage prowess isn’t what’s been getting him attention.
In a recent MMA Junkie interview, Strickland set his sights on the champion of his division, Israel Adesanya. Strickland believes the champ is using steroids and showing signs of gynecomastia (enlarged breasts in men) as a result (h/t MMA Junkie).
Photo by Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC
“Izzy’s a great fighter – he comes from kickboxing – have you ever seen a fighter with gyno for any other reason than that?” Strickland said. “Besides him, have you ever seen a fighter in the UFC that smokes weed that gets gyno? Ever? You can’t, because it doesn’t f*cking happen unless you cycle wrong. That’s a fact. We all know it. But regardless of the fact, Izzy’s a f*cking great fighter. We know that. That’s the fight I want.
“Izzy, I’ll come over dude. We can f*cking watch anime and you can put some f*cking testosterone in my ass. I’ll do it with you. Let’s f*cking go. With a needle, I think you guys do the stomach, right? Is that where you guys do, the stomach? You’re the expert on f*cking steroids. How’s it done?”
Last year, a photo of Adesanya’s pectoral went viral and lead to people claiming his flabby chest muscle was a result of steroid use. Adesanya addressed the drama, saying he had everything checked out, including a mammogram, but believes his condition may be due to “unhealthy living” and “smoking weed.”
When Sean Strickland isn’t being an absolute madman on the web, he can be found in the cage. The American’s last trip to the Octagon saw him take a unanimous decision over Uriah Hall in July. He is next scheduled to face Jack Hermansson on February 5.
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