Israel Adesanya News
UFC 243 | Robert Whittaker plans on exploiting Israel Adesanya's striking defense
Cole Shelton - September 30, 2019
Robert Whittaker sees a clear path to victory against Israel Adesanya and it is not by using his wrestling as some would expect. At UFC 243, the UFC middleweight champion will return to the Octagon for the first time since June of 2018. He will make his return against the interim champ in Adesanya. It is a highly anticipated fight between an Australian and a Kiwi in Adesanya, and it’s being billed as the biggest fight in Oceanic history.
Jared Cannonier breaks down UFC 243's Robert Whittaker vs. Israel Adesanya
Adam D Martin - September 29, 2019
Top middleweight contender Jared Cannonier was asked to give his thoughts on next weekend’s main event at UFC 243 between UFC middleweight champion Robert Whittaker and interim champ Israel Adesanya, as he could potentially be next in line for the belt. With his knockout win over Jack Hermansson in the main event of UFC Copenhagen, Cannonier is closing in on a title shot. He’s likely still behind fellow contender Paulo Costa in the title pecking order, but that’s still a great spot for “The Killa Gorilla” to be in. After his TKO win over Hermansson, Cannonier was asked what he thinks about next week’s title fight, and he admitted he’ll be paying close attention to the matchup given he could potentially face the winner of it.
Israel Adesanya on Robert Whittaker: 'I’ll pick him apart quite easily'
Natasha Hooper - September 26, 2019
Israel Adesanya has already established himself as one of the best middleweights in the world. With a record of 17-0, he is confident that his winning strategy will allow him to “pick apart” Robert Whittaker at UFC 243. It’s been a big year for Adesanya. “The Last Stylebender” got tongues wagging in a riveting three-round performance against former UFC middleweight champ Anderson Silva in February at UFC 234. His creative arsenal of striking attacks was enough to earn a unanimous decision victory. Most recently, Adesanya took on Kelvin Gastelum in a fight that exceeded expectation. Despite being a close match, the tides turned in Adesanya’s favour and he took home a decision win after five fun rounds.
Paulo Costa trashes 'skinny clown' Israel Adesanya, says Dana White has promised him next title shot
Cole Shelton - September 16, 2019
Paulo Costa will be in attendance at UFC 243 in Melbourne, Australia. But, he will not be there as a backup fighter to weigh-in. Instead, he will be there to watch the main event and see who he is fighting next. Of course, the main event of the card is the middleweight title fight between Robert Whittaker vs. Israel Adesanya. According to Paulo Costa, UFC President Dana White has promised him the next title shot.
Chael Sonnen: Jon Jones 'absolutely will not be' the champion at 35 years old
Natasha Hooper - August 15, 2019
On the latest edition of his podcast, Chael Sonnen discussed Jon Jones’ career and the possibility of his being replaced by rising fighters like Israel Adesanya in the pound-for-pound debate. Jones beat Maurício “Shogun” Rua at UFC 128 and broke the record for the youngest UFC champion. Throughout his subsequent unbeaten run, he has commonly been regarded as the Greatest of all Time.
VIDEO | Robert Whittaker and Israel Adesanya square off
Adam Martin - August 15, 2019
UFC middleweight champion Robert Whittaker and interim champ Israel Adesanya squared off Wednesday at the UFC 243 pre-fight press conference. As you can expect, it was a tense staredown between the world’s top two middleweights. Check out the video below.
Israel Adesanya on journey from MMA fan to UFC champion: 'It's crazy'
Adam Martin - August 14, 2019
Israel Adesanya has only been fighting in the UFC for a little over a year, but he’s quickly become a household name as well as the interim middleweight champion of the world. This quick rise up the rankings has even surprised Adesanya himself. In October, “Stylebender” meets UFC middleweight champion Robert Whittaker in a title unification bout at UFC 243 in Melbourne, Australia. Adesanya spoke to UFC.com about the fight against Whittaker and how quickly he’s become a star in the sport of mixed martial arts.
Israel Adesanya is insulted by comparisons to Jon Jones' striking
Cole Shelton - July 31, 2019
Israel Adesanya is set to fight Robert Whittaker in the main event of UFC 243 this October in Australia. Yet, in the lead up to the fight, a lot of the talk has been about the budding rivalry between Jon Jones and Israel Adesanya. It even got the point where “Bones” and Whittaker were talking about training with one another for this title fight.
Kelvin Gastelum makes pick for Robert Whittaker vs. Israel Adesanya fight
Tom Taylor - July 30, 2019
Robert Whittaker explains why he hasn't trained with Jon Jones yet
Cole Shelton - July 29, 2019
During Israel Adesanya’s and Jon Jones’ intense trash talk, “Bones” said he would help train Robert Whittaker for his fight against “The Last Stylebender”. Yet, with the fight in October at UFC 243, Whittaker and Jones have yet to train together. According to the middleweight champion, there is a simple reason why.
Michael Bisping: I can see Israel Adesanya giving Jon Jones problems
Fernando Quiles - July 29, 2019
Michael Bisping believes Israel Adesanya could make things interesting in a bout with Jon Jones. Adesanya and Jones have been trading barbs ever since “The Last Stylebender” said he was “hunting” another GOAT after beating Anderson Silva. Adesanya is the interim UFC middleweight champion and he’s set for a title unification bout against Robert Whittaker on Oct. 5. Meanwhile, Jones is coming off the second successful title defense in his current reign as UFC light heavyweight champion.
Dana White intrigued by potential Jon Jones vs. Israel Adesanya matchup
Mike Heck - July 19, 2019
Add UFC president Dana White to the list of people who are intrigued by a future dream matchup between light heavyweight champion Jon Jones and interim middleweight champion Israel Adesanya. Since April, a back-and-forth — through the media and online — between Jones and Adesanya has been ongoing. With all of the words spouted off by both champions, White was asked by TMZ Sports if he would be interested in the potential showdown. Of course, that’s if “The Last Stylebender” can get through his next test in October.
Israel Adesanya criticizes 'fickle' and 'wishy-washy' MMA fans
Tom Taylor - July 11, 2019
UFC interim middleweight champion Israel Adesanya believes that most MMA fans are fickle and disloyal. Speaking to MMA Fighting at the UFC Hall of Fame ceremony last weekend, the interim titleholder looked back on the moment he realized how “wishy-washy” fight fans are.
Robert Whittaker says Israel Adesanya is 'arguing by himself'
Fernando Quiles - July 10, 2019
Robert Whittaker has no plans to be goaded into a verbal spat with Israel Adesanya. Whittaker and Adesanya are set to collide in a middleweight title unification bout on Oct. 5. The championship tilt will serve as UFC 243’s main event. While the headliner and event have been announced, a location has not. While many had anticipated Melbourne, UFC president Dana White revealed during the summer press conference 2019 that nothing is a lock yet.
Marvin Vettori wants Israel Adesanya rematch, confident he 'will finish him'
Cole Shelton - July 9, 2019
Israel Adesanya is 17-0 as a pro mixed martial artist and 6-0 inside the UFC’s Octagon. While many of his UFC wins have looked quite effortless, others have come a little less easily, such as his second bout, which saw him defeat Marvin Vettori by split decision. At UFC on FOX 29, Adesanya fought Vettori and ended up winning, but it was close. One judge sided with the Italian, who is still the only person to win a judge’s favor against Adesanya in the UFC. Now, the 25-year-old wants the rematch against the interim champion and is confident he not only wins but finishes Adesanya.
Jon Jones responds to Israel Adesanya's criticism of UFC 239 Performance
Fernando Quiles - July 8, 2019
Jon Jones wasn’t going to stay quiet regarding Israel Adesanya’s latest verbal jabs for long. Jones vs. Adesanya is a dream matchup for many, but “Bones” has dismissed the idea in the past. The UFC light heavyweight champion has referred to Adesanya as being “frail” and has urged him to eat more jerk chicken. Adesanya has fired back by poking fun at Jones’ past troubles outside of the Octagon.
Israel Adesanya goes off on Jon Jones, rates UFC 239 performance as "meh"
Mike Pendleton - July 8, 2019
The feud between interim middleweight champion Israel Adesanya and reigning light heavyweight champion Jon Jones just got turned up a notch. Following Jones’ UFC 239 title defense over Thiago Santos, Adesanya gave his assessment on the champion’s performance, and it wasn’t quite complimentary. Speaking to Ariel Helwani of ESPN, Adesanya rated Jones’ title defense over Santos as “meh” and then continued with his criticism of how Jones looked at UFC 239.
VIDEO | Jorge Masvidal watches Israel Adesanya's live reaction to Askren KO, loves it
Tom Taylor - July 8, 2019
When Jorge Masvidal knocked Ben Askren unconcious with a flying knee in just five seconds at UFC 239, he left thousands of onlookers in shock. That includes UFC interim middleweight champion Israel Adesanya, who was in the middle of an interview with TSN’s Aaron Bronsteter at the time. See how Adesanya reacted to this highlight reel knockout below:
Video | Watch Israel Adesanya react to Jorge Masvidal’s historic KO
Adam D Martin - July 7, 2019
Israel Adesanya was caught on camera with a unique reaction as he was being interviewed during Jorge Masvidal’s flying knee KO over Ben Askren at UFC 239. TSN’s Aaron Bronsteter was interviewing the interim UFC middleweight champion Adesanya when Masvidal smashed Askren in the face with a flying knee.