History in the making for Adesanya
Israel Adesanya knows the opportunities for more superfights will only grow should he capture a second UFC title this weekend, but he still intends to remain active in the divisionwhere he made his name.
The undefeated Nigerian-kiwi is not looking too far past tomorrow’s main event against lightheavyweight champion Jan Blachowicz in Las Vegas, as he looks to add that belt to his middleweight crown.
But rarely nowadays does he attend a press conferencewhere the possibility of a grudge match against former long-time light-heavyweight champion, and regular verbal sparring partner, Jon Jones is not brought up.
Adesanya likes to keep people guessing and left his options open when quizzed on what could be on the horizon should he overcome Blachowicz, but none of those plans include relinquishing the middleweight title.
‘‘I peak ahead and see what the lay of the land is and how I can change history again.’’
Israel Adesanya
‘‘Middleweight’s my division so I’ll rule that with an iron black fist,’’ Adesanya said at the pre-fight press conference. ‘‘I’m going to go back down and handle business there, depending on the lay of the land.
‘‘I don’t look too far because I’ve got this Viking in front ofme and I’m looking straight at him. But I peak ahead and see what the lay of the land is and how I can change history again.’’
Adesanya is already one of the Ufc’smost marketable stars – the complete package in and out of the octagon. But his status could reach yet another level should he become the fifth fighter in the promotion’s history to hold two titles in two separate divisions simultaneously.
Comparisons have been made to Conormcgregor, who held the featherweight and lightweight titles on the way to becoming a transcendent star.
‘The Last Stylebender’ felt such a rise was ‘‘inevitable’’, but stressed that he still had a lot more he wanted to accomplish.
‘‘I just have to accept it and not hide from the role I’m in, not hide from the platform that I’m on,’’ Adesanya added.
‘‘What I’ve always predicted to do in this game is change the game, change history. I came in here just over three years ago and look what I’ve done so far – and I’ve got a long way to go.’’
A fight against Jones would arguably be the biggest in the UFC and Adesanya told ESPN this week that such amassive occasion would require a crowd.
Tomorrow’s card will be held behind closed doors at the UFC Apex. However, UFC president Dana White is exploring putting on a show, with fans, in Houston after Texas lifted its Covid-19 restrictions.
A record crowd of almost 60,000