Israel Adesanya News

Dana White
Israel Adesanya

Video | Dana White accidentally dubs Israel Adesanya "The Greatest Female Fighter of All-Time"

Chris Taylor - February 27, 2021

UFC President Dana White had a brain fart during a recent interview with Laura Sanko dubbing Israel Adesanya “The Greatest Female Fighter of All-Time”. The UFC’s reigning and undefeated middleweight champion, Adesanya (20-0 MMA), will be making the jump to light heavyweight for his next Octagon appearance. ‘Stylebender’ is set to challenge the promotions newly crowned 205lbs champion Jan Blachowicz at UFC 259 on March 6.

Daniel Cormier
Israel Adesanya

Daniel Cormier shares prediction for Jan Blachowicz vs. Israel Adesanya title fight at UFC 259

Harry Kettle - February 24, 2021

Daniel Cormier has given his thoughts on the upcoming Light Heavyweight Championship bout between Jan Blachowicz and Israel Adesanya. The two men will meet at UFC 259 in a fight that will see Blachowicz defend his newly won belt for the very first time. Adesanya, on the other hand, will be attempting to join an elite group of fighters to hold two belts in the UFC at the very same time.

Jan Blachowicz
Jan Blachowicz

Jan Blachowicz says potential "bad blood" with Israel Adesanya depends on his trash talk

Harry Kettle - February 23, 2021

UFC light heavyweight king Jan Blachowicz says he doesn’t have bad blood with Israel Adesanya right now – but that could change leading up to UFC 259. The two men are set to clash for the UFC Light Heavyweight Championship as Blachowicz defends the belt for the very first time. Adesanya, on the other hand, is hoping to join an elite group of fighters to have won belts in two different weight classes.

Glover Teixeira, UFC Vancouver
Israel Adesanya

Glover Teixeira explains why he turned down fight at UFC 259 for backup role instead

Adam Martin - February 21, 2021

UFC light heavyweight contender Glover Teixeira explained why he turned down the chance to fight at UFC 259 for the backup role instead. The 41-year-old Teixeira is currently the No. 1 contender in the UFC light heavywight division following a submission win over Thiago Santos in his last fight. The Brazilian has won his last five straight fights and many analysts thought he should have been next in line to fight UFC light heavyweight champion Jan Blachowicz. Instead, the UFC decided to give the next title shot at 205lbs to Israel Adesanya. Blachowicz and Adesanya will now headline UFC 259 on March 6, with Teixeira flying to Las Vegas to serve as a backup for the fight.

Kamaru Usman, UFC 251
Kamaru Usman

UFC welterweight champion Kamaru Usman details requirements for a move up to middleweight

Christopher Taylor - February 17, 2021

UFC welterweight champion Kamaru Usman has revealed his required stipulations for a potential move up to middleweight. Usman (18-1 MMA) successfully defended his welterweight title at last weekend’s UFC 258 event scoring a third round TKO victory over Gilbert Burns. The victory marked Kamaru’s seventeenth in a row and third consecutive title defense.

UFC 259
Jan Blachowicz

UFC 259: 'Blachowicz vs. Adesanya' Fight Card and Start Times

Christopher Taylor - February 14, 2021

The official fight card and lineup for next month’s UFC 259: ‘Blachowicz vs. Adesanya’ event was released on Saturday night. UFC 259 is set for March 6 in Las Vegas and features a total of three title fights.

Tyron Woodley, Jon Jones
Jan Blachowicz

Tyron Woodley rips Israel Adesanya for moving up to 205lbs as soon as Jon Jones left the division

Christopher Taylor - February 11, 2021

Tyron Woodley is perplexed by Israel Adesanya’s decision to move up to 205lbs immediately after Jon Jones left the division. Last summer it appeared that a potential showdown between Jones and Adesanya was a real possibility. However, the potential super-fight was shutdown after ‘Stylebender’ stated that he intended on clearing out the promotions middleweight division before making a move up to light heavyweight.

Israel Adesanya
Jan Blachowicz

Photo | Israel Adesanya looks lean and mean weeks out of 205lbs debut at UFC 259

Adam Martin - February 10, 2021

UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya shared a new photo of himself looking lean and mean ahead of his 205lbs debut at UFC 259. Adesanya meets UFC light heavyweight champion Jan Blachowicz in the main event of the March 6 pay-per-view card. Instead of bulking up for his first fight at 205lbs, Adesanya and his coaching staff instead decided to stay at his natural walking around weight for this upcoming fight with Blachowicz. The team conceded that Blachowicz is the stronger fighter, so the hope is that by not having to cut weight, Adesanya will gain an advantage in speed and stamina.

Israel Adesanya
Jan Blachowicz

Israel Adesanya will not put on extra weight or muscle ahead of 205lbs debut against Jan Blachowicz

Adam Martin - February 3, 2021

Israel Adesanya will not put on any extra weight or muscle ahead of his upcoming UFC light heavyweight title fight against Jan Blachowicz. Adesanya, the reigning UFC middleweight champion, is moving up to light heavyweight to take on Blachowicz in a champion vs. champion superfight that headlines UFC 259. With Blachowicz being one of the biggest and strongest light heavyweights, many thought Adesanya would maybe want to bulk up and put on some extra weight or muscle for this 205lbs fight. However, that isn’t the case.

Darren Till, Uriah Hall, Israel Adesanya
Israel Adesanya

Darren Till refutes Uriah Hall's claim about Israel Adesanya's competition: "He's fought all killers"

Tom Taylor - February 2, 2021

Darren Till has gone to bat for UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya after a recent criticism from his fellow contender Uriah Hall. Hall, the UFC’s No. 8-ranked middleweight, recently expressed his belief that Adesanya has been competing against subpar opposition of his own volition.

Uriah Hall, UFC Vancouver, Darren Till, UFC Vegas 12
Israel Adesanya

Uriah Hall says he would fight Israel Adesanya for free

Adam Martin - January 21, 2021

Uriah Hall says he wants to fight UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya so badly that he would fight him in the Octagon for free. In his last fight, Hall picked up arguably the biggest win of his MMA career to date when he knocked out the legend Anderson Silva on Halloween. Hall is now riding a three-fight win streak overall, with victories over Bevon Lewis and Antonio Carlos Junior prior to defeating Silva. Hall is the No. 9 ranked middleweight on the UFC roster and he will take on former champion Chris Weidman in his next bout as he looks to get closer and closer to fighting for the title, a belt that is currently held by Adesanya, whose future at 185lbs is up in the air.

Jon Jones, Israel Adesanya, Daniel Cormier
Israel Adesanya

Jon Jones vs. Israel Adesanya should happen at light heavyweight, says Dana White

Tom Taylor - January 11, 2021

UFC President Dana White believes a potential fight between Jon Jones and Israel Adesanya should happen in the light heavyweight division, not at heavyweight. Jones and Adesanya are two of the biggest stars in MMA at present, and White has made no secret of his interest in a fight between them. That being said, it’s unclear what weight class this potential superfight would occur in.

Jan Blachowicz, Joanna Jedrzejczyk
Jan Blachowicz

Joanna Jedrzejczyk breaks down Jan Blachowicz vs. Israel Adesanya

Adam Martin - January 4, 2021

Former UFC strawweight champion Joanna Jedrzejczyk broke down the upcoming 205lbs matchup between Jan Blachowicz and Israel Adesanya. Jedrzejczyk and Blachowicz have been friends for years as they are two of the best fighters to ever come out of Poland. Ahead of Blachowicz’s upcoming title defense at UFC 259 for the UFC light heavyweight championship against Israel Adesanya, Jedrzejczyk spoke to South China Morning Post and broke down the matchup. While she acknowledges that she has a close friendship with Blachowicz, she also admits Adesanya is a unique challenge.

Jon Jones
Jan Blachowicz

Jon Jones taunts Israel Adesanya and Jan Blachowicz: "I didn’t leave the light heavyweight division to challenge myself, I ran out of fear"

Chris Taylor - January 2, 2021

Former UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones has reacted following news that Israel Adesanya will challenge Jan Blachowicz. Earlier this week, Dana White announced that the promotions reining middleweight champion in Adesanya would be moving up a weight class to challenge Blachowicz for the 205-pound title at UFC 259.

Israel Adesanya
Jan Blachowicz

Video | Israel Adesanya reacts after booking title fight with Jan Blachowicz at UFC 259

Chris Taylor - December 31, 2020

Israel Adesanya will look to become a UFC champ-champ in 2021 when he challenges Jan Blachowicz for the promotions light heavyweight title. The UFC’s reigning and undefeated middleweight champion, Adesanya (20-0 MMA), is set to collide with Blachowicz (27-8 MMA) in the main event of UFC 259 on March 6.

Jan Blachowicz
Jan Blachowicz

Jan Blachowicz reacts to Israel Adesanya booking: "Charging legendary Polish power"

Tom Taylor - December 31, 2020

UFC light heavyweight champ Jan Blachowicz has shared his first public reaction to his upcoming title defense against middleweight champ Israel Adesanya. Blachowicz and Adesanya have been linked to a champion versus champion fight for several months, and last night, UFC President Dana White made it official. The fight is targeted for UFC 259 on March 6.

Israel Adesanya, Dan Hardy, UFC rankings
UFC

Israel Adesanya reacts after being voted ‘Fighter of The Year’ for 2020

Harry Kettle - December 28, 2020

UFC middleweight king Israel Adesanya has reacted to being named Fighter of the Year in the Fighters Only World MMA Awards. Adesanya managed to register two big wins in 2020, and while his victory over Yoel Romero may have been controversial, the success against Paulo Costa was as emphatic as it gets.

Israel Adesanya
UFC

Israel Adesanya named Fighter of the Year at World MMA Awards, full list of winners revealed

Adam Martin - December 27, 2020

UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya was named winner of the Charles “Mask” Lewis Fighter of the Year award at the World MMA Awards. Adesanya took home the top prize of the night in being voted as the best fighter of the year, and he was among a number of deserving award winners at the 12th World MMA Awards. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 12th edition of the Fighters Only World MMA Awards took place remotely on December 27, 2020. It should be noted the awards timeline for inclusion stretched from January 2019 to July 2020. Check out the full list of this edition’s winning fighters below (via MMAjunkie.com).