At a glance
What: UFC 243, Whittaker v Adesanya
When, where: 3pm Sunday (NZ time), Marvel Stadium, Melbourne
champion when then-champion Georges St-Pierre left the sport.
However, he’s only fought once since then – a gutsy split decision victory over Yoel Romero in June 2018 – due to injury and illness. During that time, Adesanya has torn through the division, winning his first six appearances and establishing himself as one of the UFC’s most exciting talents.
Adesanya became the No 1 contender with a win over all-time great Anderson Silva at UFC 234 in February. Whittaker was scheduled to headline that event against Kelvin Gastelum only to pull out at the last minute due to a collapsed bowel.
With Whittaker unable to compete, Adesanya was offered an interim title fight against Gastelum in April, prevailing in a thrilling fiveround epic to set up Sunday’s unification bout.
The clash is technically Whittaker’s first title defence after the Romero bout was stripped of championship status when the Cuban failed to make weight. With a Ma¯ori mother and Australian father, Whittaker is often quizzed on where his allegiance lies. The 28-year-old was born in Auckland but moved to Sydney almost immediately after and has lived there ever since.
Whittaker has tattoos honouring his Ma¯ori heritage and Aussie homeland, and told Stuff in May he won’t be forced to pick a side.
‘‘You can’t take the blood out of me, that’s not how it works,’’ ‘The Reaper’ said. ‘‘And my family know who I am, that’s all that matters.
‘‘I understand that I was raised in Australia and I am an Australian, that’s what my passport says. But I’ve always been very, very proud of my Ma¯ori heritage and anyone who’s seen me fight can see the Ma¯ori in me.’’
It’s a similar situation for Adesanya, who is immensely proud of his Nigerian roots while calling New Zealand home since he was 13. Their records speak for themselves, with Whittaker undefeated in eight fights as a middleweight since moving up from welterweight in 2014, while Adesanya is yet to taste defeat in 17 MMA bouts.
They have fought the same opponent twice in Derek Brunson and Brad Tavares. Whittaker stopped both in the first round, while Adesanya produced a fiveround striking masterclass in a dominant decision win over Tavares before also knocking out Four NZ-based fighters are in action, including three from Auckland gym City Kickboxing – Adesanya, Dan Hooker and Brad Riddell.
Hooker features in the co-main event against sixth-ranked lightweight Al Iaquinta. The American went the distance with undefeated champion Khabib Nurmagomedov last year and victory for Hooker, who is ranked 15th, should elevate him into the upper echelon of the division.
Also at lightweight, Riddell is making his promotional debut against Aussie Jamie Mullarkey, while Hamilton’s Luke Jumeau returns from an 18-month injury layoff against Brazil’s Dhiego Lima.
Heavyweight Justin Tafa, who grew up in West Auckland before moving back across the Tasman, will make his UFC debut against Yorgan De Castro.