UFC News: Israel Adesanya cites himself ready for his next middleweight title defense after knocking out Alex Pereira at UFC 287. From a long list of elite middleweights, Izzy picked up Dricus Du Plessis and Robert Whittaker as the front runners for his next fight. Follow UFC News Updates with InsideSport.IN.
Israel Adesanya dropped a video on his YouTube channel and tagged Du Plessis as the ‘new challenger’, while he referred to Robert Whittaker as the ‘old challenger’ whom he has beaten twice.
As per Dana White, Adesanya wanted to know about his next opponent just days after reclaiming the middleweight gold at UFC 287. It seems that we will see ‘The Last Stylebender’ in action shortly. Although Adesanya had specifically wanted to face Dricus Du Plessis only, it seems that Whittaker can crash the party, too.
Robert Whittaker is currently ranked two at 185 lbs with Alex Pereira still holding the number one rank. That said, former champion Alex Pereira is expected to move up to 205 lbs, and that shall enable Whittaker to call for the title shot. However, Robert Whittaker shall get past Dricus Du Plessis at UFC 290. Or it would expand the space between him and the middleweight gold.
Robert Whittaker has lost only twice in the last nine years and both times against Israel Adesanya. ‘The Reaper’ lost his middleweight belt to Adesanya via TKO at UFC 243. Whittaker then earned three-straight wins to earn a title shot and a rematch against Adesanya at UFC 271.
Nevertheless, Israel Adesanya beat Robert Whittaker again via decision. Following the defeat, Robert Whittaker vanquished Marvin Vettori and will ace Du Plessis next.
When Can Israel Adesanya Fight Next?
UFC 290 shall take place on July 8, where Whittaker and Du Plessis shall collide. The winner of the fight and Israel Adesanya can lock horns by the end of 2023, possibly in November. That shall allow Israel Adesanya to take a long layoff since his career-defining win over Alex Pereira.
After two losses in kickboxing and one in the MMA (UFC), Adesanya finally avenged his ‘ghost from the past’ by landing an electrifying knockout in the main-event of UFC 287. Israel Adesanya is once again a world champion and is expected to write his next chapter soon.
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