Israel Adesanya News
Robert Whittaker vs. Israel Adesanya headlines UFC 243 in Melbourne
Adam Martin - June 20, 2019
The two best middleweights in MMA are set to fight in a title unification bout this fall. According to a report from Raphael Marinho of Combate, UFC middleweight champion Robert Whittaker will take on interim UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya in the main event of UFC 243, which takes place October 6 at Marvel Stadium in Melbourne, Australia. It is the biggest fight in MMA history between fighters from Australia and New Zealand.
Kelvin Gastelum gives his prediction for Robert Whittaker vs. Israel Adesanya title fight
Cole Shelton - June 10, 2019
At UFC 234, Robert Whittaker was set to defend his middleweight title against Kelvin Gastelum. It would have been the first time that the Aussie would have defended his belt. However, on the day of the fight, the champ had to pull out of the contest due to health reasons. Fast forward to UFC 236, and in the co-main event, Gastelum was fighting for the interim title against Israel Adesanya. Ultimately, Adesanya beat Gastelum by unanimous decision in what is a front runner for the fight of the year.
Israel Adesanya, Dustin Poirier get warm welcomes in hometowns
Thomas Taylor - May 19, 2019
Dustin Poirier and Israel Adesanya both captured interim titles at UFC 236, defeating Max Holloway and Kelvin Gastelum respectively. Now proud owners of some flashy new UFC belts, the UFC 236 winners Poirier and Adesanya both recently returned to home to hero’s welcomes. The UFC documented Israel Adesanya and Dustin Poirier’s homecomings on Instagram.
Israel Adesanya takes shot at Robert Whittaker on Twitter
Natasha Hooper - May 10, 2019
Israel Adesanya has taken aim at the current middleweight champion Robert Whittaker, mocking his heritage. The Twitter image and caption posted by Adesanya mocks Whittaker ahead of their unification title bout intended for 2019. It can be assumed the post was made to promote the fight, cause a stir and put seeds of doubt in the mind of Robert Whittaker.
Israel Adesanya fires back at Yoel Romero, compares him to Groot
Tom Taylor - May 6, 2019
Last week, UFC interim middleweight champ Israel Adesanya took a shot at Yoel Romero on Twitter, questioning the Cuban wrestler’s accomplishments and criticizing him for his previous weight cutting issues. ...and tha fuck what. Y'll act like Romero is the champ, never makes weight, never won a UFC belt.Them: "yOu foUGht aN OLd sIlVa!!"Me: Anderson is 44, Yoel is 42...😂🤫 https://t.co/dgKVd4OYrA
Israel Adesanya criticizes Yoel Romero who 'never makes weight'
Drake Riggs - May 3, 2019
Israel Adesanya is on top of the world after his massive UFC interim middleweight title victory at UFC 236 in Atlanta, Georgia in early April. However, that doesn’t make him immune to continued critique. The undefeated Nigeria native and kickboxing sensation in Adesanya would go to war with Kelvin Gastelum over the course of their five-round co-main event. In the end, it would be Adesanya who picked up the victory via unanimous decision.
Report | UFC 243 set for Sydney, Australia with Robert Whittaker vs Israel Adesanya in the works
Drake Riggs - April 29, 2019
Generally, when an interim champion is crowned, we know exactly what fight will be next for them. That, of course, is none other than the undisputed champion. When “The Last Stylebender” Israel Adesanya (17-0) defeated Kelvin Gastelum at UFC 236 in a fight of the year candidate, he became the new UFC interim middleweight champion. Thus making an encounter with the undisputed champ, Robert Whittaker (20-4), inevitable.
Chris Weidman explains why he is a 'nightmare matchup' for Israel Adesanya
Tom Taylor - April 23, 2019
Like pretty much everybody else inside the MMA bubble, former UFC middleweight champion Chris Weidman has enjoyed watching new interim middleweight champ Israel Adesanya compete inside the Octagon. That being said, he believes he possesses the physical tools and the skills to give the Nigerian-born Kiwi fits inside the cage. Weidman explains why he feels this way on the latest episode of Ariel Helwani’s MMA Show.
Kevin Lee Wants Adesanya vs. Gastelum Type War on May 18
James Lynch - April 20, 2019
Kevin Lee wants his next fight to be legendary! Looking to avoid back-to-back losses for the first time in his career, Lee moves up to the welterweight division against former lightweight champion Rafael Dos Anjos at UFC on ESPN+ 10 on May 18. The 26-year-old plans to be a lot more focused in this fight, as opposed to his last outing against Al Iaquinta, a unanimous decision loss at UFC on FOX 31, where he felt distracted.
Anderson Silva sides with Jon Jones says Israel Adesanya 'crossed the line'
Cole Shelton - April 17, 2019
Anderson Silva has picked a side in the ongoing feud between Jon Jones and Israel Adesanya. The feud first started when Adesanya called out Jones. Since then the two have been trading shots at each other on frequent occasion. Silva, who fought Adesanya at UFC 234, believes ‘The Last Stylebender’ disrespected Jones with the way he handled the trash-talk.
Israel Adesanya fires back at Paulo Costa after post-fight comments
Tom Taylor - April 17, 2019
Shortly after Israel Adesanya captured the UFC interim middleweight title by defeating Kelvin Gastelum in the UFC 236 co-main event, he found himself on the receiving end of a social media attack from one of his primary rivals, fellow undefeated middleweight Paulo Costa. Fetching content “Really this is the interim (fake) champ? Hahah .No doubt this weight division has already been better than this shit. Enjoy this while you can man, I really hope that you take the real belt one day to meet me. Note: And I’m not the Gastelum.” – Paulo Costa on Instagram.
Israel Adesanya sets record at UFC 236, Conor McGregor begs to differ
Tom Taylor - April 17, 2019
Israel Adesanya absorbed quite a bit of punishment in his UFC 236 interim middleweight title fight with Kelvin Gastelum, but he also landed plenty of meaningful offense in return. In fact, he landed a record-breaking amount. Shortly after this fight, which Adesanya won by unanimous decision, the UFC announced that the Nigerian-born Kiwi had landed the third most knockdowns ever in a single UFC fight. MMA Junkie’s Mike Bohn then added that Adesanya’s four knockdowns landed on Gastelum actually set the record for the most knockdowns in a single title fight.
Odds: Robert Whittaker favored over new interim champion Israel Adesanya
Tom Taylor - April 16, 2019
Having won the UFC interim middleweight championship with a thrilling decision victory over Kelvin Gastelum in the co-main event of UFC 236 this past Saturday, Israel Adesanya can now look forward to a title-unifying collision with undisputed middleweight champion Robert Whittaker. This clash between New Zealand’s Adesanya and Australia’s Whittaker will likely go down in Australia late this year, per UFC President Dana White.
Robert Whittaker says Israel Adesanya got exposed in Kelvin Gastelum fight at UFC 236
Cole Shelton - April 15, 2019
Israel Adesanya became the interim middleweight champion after beating Kelvin Gastelum by unanimous decision at UFC 236. Now, the plan is for Adesanya to unify his belt with current champion, Robert Whittaker, potentially in a stadium in Australia. Although ‘The Last Stylebender’ is undefeated, Whittaker believes it is an easy matchup for him, this after seeing Adesanya get exposed against Gastelum.
Israel Adesanya and Jon Jones continue to banter back and forth
Drake Riggs - April 15, 2019
The undefeated Nigerian kickboxing sensation, Israel Adesanya had a star like quality to him that was evident as soon as he made his Octagon debut in February 2018. Five fights later and he’s now the interim champion of the middleweight division. To earn that label, ‘The Last Stylebender’ defeated Kelvin Gastelum in a thrilling fight of the year candidate in UFC 236’s co-main event this past Saturday.
UFC 236 Fighter Salaries: Max Holloway and Israel Adesanya take home top payouts
Christopher Taylor - April 15, 2019
Max Holloway and Israel Adesanya each took home an event-high $350,000 for their efforts at last Saturday’s UFC 236 event in Atlanta. Israel Adesanya went to war with Kelvin Gastelum in Saturday’s co-main attraction. ‘Stylebender’ was forced to battle through adversity for the first time in his UFC career this weekend, this after being dropped by Gastelum in the opening round.
Kelvin Gastelum issues statement following UFC 236 title loss to Israel Adesanya
Chris Taylor - April 14, 2019
Kelvin Gastelum and Israel Adesanya squared off for the interim middleweight championship in the co-headliner of last night’s UFC 236 event in Atlanta. The fight exceeded expectations, as Gastelum and Adesanya proceeded to throw down for the better part of twenty-five minutes, much to the pleasure of fight fans in attendance and watching around the world.
Paulo Costa takes shot at 'fake' champ Israel Adesanya after UFC 236
Tom Taylor - April 14, 2019
On Saturday night, in the co-main event of the action-packed UFC 236 card, undefeated striking specialist Israel Adesanya claimed the interim middleweight title with a thrilling decision defeat of Kelvin Gastelum. In the wake of this win, Adesanya has been praised for his incredible efforts and also his ability to survive Gastelum’s many strong moments in the fight. Not everybody, however, is celebrating the new interim middleweight champion.