Stakes raised for Adesanya’s UFC fight
Mixed martial arts
The stakes have officially been raised for Israel Adesanya at UFC 234 and the Kiwi sensation is not about to let his golden opportunity pass him by.
UFC president Dana White confirmed yesterday’s pre-fight press conference that this weekend’s clash between Adesanya and mixed martial arts icon Anderson Silva would be for the middleweight No 1 contender position and the next shot at the title.
Silva had already been guaranteed a title fight should he get his hand raised at Rod Laver Arena in Melbourne tomorrow.
And while it was widely assumed that ‘The Last Stylebender’ had been offered the same incentive, it appears White took some convincing.
‘‘After [UFC] 230 I texted him straight after the fight saying I want to fight this guy and he was like ‘pump the brakes’,’’ Adesanya said.
‘‘But when we had the meeting [last November] and spoke face to face I told him this ain’t my first rodeo.
‘‘I’ve been doing this for a long time as well. So the cat’s out of the bag and I’m about to be champion, 2019.’’
The news continues Adesanya’s meteoric rise in the world’s premier MMA organisation.
The 29-year-old Nigerian-born star has taken the middleweight division by storm over the last 12 months, winning his first four bouts to improve his overall record to 15-0 and shoot to sixth in the rankings.
Overcome Silva and it sets the stage for a dream trans-Tasman showdown against middleweight champion Robert Whittaker, should the New Zealand-born Australian defend his belt against Kelvin Gastelum in tomorrow’s headliner.
Many fans in this part of the world are already looking ahead to that potential match-up and Adesanya made no secret of his desire to meet Whittaker next up. He even listed Sydney and Brisbane as possible venues. But he insisted there was no way he was looking past Silva.