Israel Adesanya News
![Israel Adesanya](https://www.bjpenn.com/wp-content/uploads/Israel-Adesanya-3-118x78.png)
Israel Adesanya compares Robert Whittaker to Dominick Cruz: "This is another one of those"
Chris Taylor - February 13, 2019
Undefeated UFC middleweight contender Israel Adesanya does not want to see the promotions 185-pound division held up by injured champ Robert Whittaker. Whittaker was supposed to defend his UFC middleweight championship against Kelvin Gastelum in the main event of UFC 234 this past weekend in Australia.
![Israel Adesanya, UFC rankings](https://www.bjpenn.com/wp-content/uploads/Israel-Adesanya-118x78.png)
UFC rankings update: Israel Adesanya is now a top-5 middleweight
Tom Taylor - February 13, 2019
The official UFC rankings have been updated in the wake of last Saturday’s UFC 234 card, and as expected, Israel Adesanya has burst into the middleweight division’s top-5 on the strength of his decision defeat of the legend Anderson Silva. Elsewhere, the men’s flyweight division continues to be the picture of chaos, as many of the weight class’s top fighters have been cut by the promotion.
![Kelvin Gastelum](https://www.bjpenn.com/wp-content/uploads/Capture3-Cropped-6-118x78.jpg)
Kelvin Gastelum says Israel Adesanya is not yet worthy of a title shot
Tom Taylor - February 12, 2019
Kelvin Gastelum, who was supposed to battle Robert Whittaker in the UFC 234 main event, and now considers himself the middleweight champ by default after Whittaker withdrew from the fight with an injury, was not impressed by Israel Adesanya and Anderson Silva’s UFC 234 fight. Instead, Gastelum saw this fight as more “theatrics” than anything else.
![Israel Adesanya, Anderson Silva](https://www.bjpenn.com/wp-content/uploads/Israel-Adesanya-Anderson-Silva-118x78.png)
Anderson Silva hopes Israel Adesanya becomes UFC champion
Tom Taylor - February 12, 2019
Last weekend, in the last-minute main event of UFC 234, former UFC middleweight champ and undeniable MMA legend Anderson Silva came up short in an exciting, three-round battle with surging contender Israel Adesanya. In the wake of this fight, Anderson Silva has made no secret of his respect and admiration for Adesanya. In fact, he even hopes to see the Nigeria-born New Zealander become a UFC champion in the future.
![Israel Adesanya](https://www.bjpenn.com/wp-content/uploads/Israel-Adesanya-3-118x78.png)
Biggest winners from UFC 234
Mike Straus - February 11, 2019
No that it is over let’s take a look at the biggest winners from last weekend’s UFC 234 card. Unfortunately, middleweight champion Robert Whittaker was forced to have surgery to fix a hernia rather than defend his title against Kelvin Gastelum in the main event, but luckily the co-main event featured Anderson Silva and Israel Adesanya.
![Israel Adesanya](https://www.bjpenn.com/wp-content/uploads/Israel-Adesanya-4-118x78.png)
Israel Adesanya plans to wait for title shot
Tom Taylor - February 11, 2019
UFC middleweight champion Robert Whittaker was supposed to defend his title opposite Kelvin Gastelum at UFC 234 over the weekend. Unfortunately, a serious health issue forced him out of this fight, leaving the middleweight title picture mired in uncertainty. Whittaker and Gastelum’s fight is now expected to be rescheduled for sometime later this year, and top middleweight contender Israel Adesanya plans to wait for his shot at the winner.
![Israel Adesanya, Paulo Costa, Stephen Thompson](https://www.bjpenn.com/wp-content/uploads/Israel-Adesanya-Paulo-Costa-118x78.jpg)
Paulo Costa takes shot at 'scrawny' Israel Adesanya
Tom Taylor - February 11, 2019
On Saturday night, in the short-notice headliner of UFC 234 in Melbourne, Australia, streaking middleweight contender Israel Adesanya picked up the biggest victory of his career thus far, out-duelling former champion Anderson Silva for three, enthralling rounds, en route to a unanimous decision nod. With this career-changing triumph in the rear-view mirror, Israel Adesanya has emerged as one of the top contenders in the perilous UFC middleweight division, and remains one of the most hyped fighters on the UFC roster.
![Anderson-Silva-Israel-Adesanya](https://www.bjpenn.com/wp-content/uploads/Anderson-Silva-Israel-Adesanya-Cropped-118x78.jpg)
What's next for UFC 234 middleweights?
Cole Shelton - February 10, 2019
On Saturday night, the UFC held its first pay-per-view of the year in UFC 234, which went down in Melbourne, Australia. The card was originally expected to be headlined by a middleweight title fight between champion Robert Whittaker and challenger Kelvin Gastelum. Unfortunately, Whittaker was forced out of this matchup on the day of the fight.
![Anderson Silva](https://www.bjpenn.com/wp-content/uploads/Anderson-Silva-2-118x78.png)
Pros react to Israel Adesanya defeating Anderson Silva at UFC 234
Chris Taylor - February 9, 2019
Former UFC middleweight kingpin Anderson Silva took on rising star Israel Adesanya in the main event of UFC 234 tonight in Melbourne, Australia. This evening’s event was originally supposed to be headlined by a middleweight title fight featuring reigning champion Robert Whittaker taking on top contender Kelvin Gastelum.
![Anderson-Silva-Israel-Adesanya](https://www.bjpenn.com/wp-content/uploads/Anderson-Silva-Israel-Adesanya-Cropped-118x78.jpg)
UFC 234 Results: Israel Adesanya defeats Anderson Silva (Highlights)
Chris Taylor - February 9, 2019
Tonight’s UFC 234 event was headlined by a middleweight bout between former division champion Anderson Silva and surging contender Israel Adesanya. Anderson Silva entered the octagon for the first time in over a year tonight in Melbourne. “The Spider” was last seen in action at UFC 208, where he scored a unanimous decision victory over Derek Brunson.
![Anderson-Silva-Israel-Adesanya](https://www.bjpenn.com/wp-content/uploads/Anderson-Silva-Israel-Adesanya-Cropped-118x78.jpg)
UFC 234 Live Results
Chris Taylor - February 9, 2019
The octagon returns to Australia this evening for the promotions UFC 234 pay-per-view event which is now headlined by a middleweight bout between Anderson Silva and Israel Adesanya. Tonight’s pay-per-view event was expected to be headlined by a middleweight title fight between Robert Whittaker and Kelvin Gastelum. However, “The Reaper” was forced to withdraw from the fight due to an injury just hours prior to the event.
![Israel Adesanya, UFC rankings](https://www.bjpenn.com/wp-content/uploads/Israel-Adesanya-118x78.png)
Israel Adesanya believes it would be in UFC's 'best interest' if he was champion
Drake Riggs - February 8, 2019
Tomorrow night, the ‘Stylebender’ Israel Adesanya will be looking to take out the legendary Anderson Silva in the UFC 234 co-main event in Melbourne, Australia. Meanwhile, the main event of the evening will see his division’s title be fought over as the middleweight champion Robert Whittaker looks to defend against Kelvin Gastelum.
![Robert Whittaker, UFC 234, UFC 234 betting odds, UFC 234 odds, Israel Adesanya, Kelvin Gastelum, Anderson Silva](https://www.bjpenn.com/wp-content/uploads/Robert-Whittaker-5-118x78.png)
UFC 234 odds | Robert Whittaker, Israel Adesanya both favored to win
Tom Taylor - February 7, 2019
UFC 234, the promotion’s first pay-per-view of the year, is just around the corner. This card, which goes down in Melbourne, Australia on Saturday night, will be headlined by a middleweight title fight between champion Robert Whittaker and challenger Kelvin Gastelum.
![Jon Jones, Israel Adesanya, Daniel Cormier](https://www.bjpenn.com/wp-content/uploads/Jon-Jones-Israel-Adesanya-118x78.jpg)
Jon Jones debunks comparisons to Israel Adesanya
Tom Taylor - February 7, 2019
Israel Adesanya is arguably the most hyped fighter in the UFC right now. In a way, his rise has been quite similar to the rise of Jon Jones, who is now considered one of the best fighters ever. The similar trajectories of Jones and Adesanya has led many fans and pundits to compare the two.
![Anderson Silva](https://www.bjpenn.com/wp-content/uploads/Anderson-Silva-2-118x78.png)
Dana White says UFC 234 fight could be the last for Anderson Silva
James Lynch - February 7, 2019
This Saturday at UFC 234 could be the last time we see Anderson Silva in the octagon. That’s according to UFC President Dana White who told TMZ, that if Silva is knocked out by Israel Adesanya in their middleweight co-main event matchup, it could be the end of the road for “The Spider.”
![Anderson-Silva-Israel-Adesanya](https://www.bjpenn.com/wp-content/uploads/Anderson-Silva-Israel-Adesanya-Cropped-118x78.jpg)
EXCLUSIVE | Pro fighters make their picks for Israel Adesanya vs Anderson Silva
Cole Shelton - February 6, 2019
The UFC’s first pay-per-view of 2019 will go down in Melbourne, Australia and be topped by a middleweight title fight between Robert Whittaker and Kelvin Gastelum. However, arguably the fight most fans are looking forward to is the co-main event where rising superstar Israel Adesanya will take on former champion Anderson Silva. Ahead of this fight, BJPENN.com reached out to several pro fighters to get their predictions. Most believe Adesanya will be too much for Silva, while one fighter is undecided on who will win.
![Israel Adesanya, UFC rankings](https://www.bjpenn.com/wp-content/uploads/Israel-Adesanya-118x78.png)
Three UFC fighters poised for big things in 2019
Cole Shelton - January 3, 2019
2019 is officially here, and it’s looking like it could be a huge year for a number of rising UFC stars, such as surging striking sensation Israel Adesanya. Without further ado, here are three UFC fighters we expect to do big things in this new year.
![Anderson Silva, UFC](https://www.bjpenn.com/wp-content/uploads/Anderson-Silva-118x78.jpg)
Anderson Silva downplays similarities between himself and Israel Adesanya
Tom Taylor - December 19, 2018
On February 9, at UFC 234 in Melbourne, Australia, former UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva will battle red-hot contender Israel Adesanya. Heading into this matchup, many fans have suggested that Silva and Adesanya are quite similar. Some have even suggested that the latter is a newer, younger version of the former.