UFC boss promises to make Whittaker and Izzy showdown happen
UFC president Dana White has confirmed January as his preferred date for a Las Vegas title fight between Robert Whittaker and Israel Adesanya, saying: “I will get that done.”
In a wide-ranging interview, White opened up on his plans for the UFC middleweight division and urged Australia’s Alex Volkanovski to go sign alongside greats such as Anderson Silva and Chuck Liddell next Sunday, by earning his “moment” at UFC 266 in Las Vegas.
The reigning UFC featherweight, and unbeaten inside the Octagon, Volkanovski can also make history against American Brian Ortega by becoming the first Australian to defend a UFC title twice.
Meanwhile, Whittaker is also set to receive his middleweight title rematch with fierce rival Adesanya, who took his strap before 60,000 fans at UFC 243 in 2019.
While White initially wanted the showdown to headline his UFC 268 Madison Square Garden card in November, issues around New Zealand quarantines meant the champ was unable to go over for the fight and then back into Auckland.
Yet when asked about whispers suggesting the fight would now be held Stateside in January, for what will likely be UFC 270, White said with a grin: “Could be.” Then, after a pause, said: “That’s what we’re working on, we’re working on January.
“That’s a fight we want to make so we’re working on it. I will get that done.”
Meanwhile, White also revealed that if Volkanovski won his fight, he could go straight into a third bout with former champ Max Holloway, who many believe won their most recent encounter, at UFC 251 in 2020.