UFC 248: Israel Adesanya to defend middleweight title against Yoel Romero
After dethroning Aussie fighter Rober Whitaker, Israel Adesanya has confirmed the first defence of his UFC middleweight title and outlined his plans for 2020 in his bid to become one of the sport’s biggest drawcards.
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Israel Adesanya has already captured a UFC title and but the New Zealand striking sensation is ready to take the world by storm and join the ranks of MMA’s biggest stars.
With the first defence of his middleweight title confirmed, Adesanya has declared he wants to stay as active as possible in 2020, starting with a bout against Cuban monster Yoel Romero in March in Las Vegas.
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Adesanya blitzed Whittaker in two rounds last October to claim the title, with some speculating the Australian was a little shopworn following his clashes with Romero.
But Adesanya, who is undefeated as a professional, doesn’t think such excuses fly for the 42-year old Romero.
“Training camps I go through were harder than those fights,” Adesanya said.
“When I beat him, people will say he’s old and washed up.
“I like staying active. It keeps me out of trouble.”
Adesanya has fought seven times in the UFC in the last two years, and is willing to enter the cage as many as four times in 2020.
With his captivating striking style and charisma on the mic, “The Last Stylebender” could well become one of the sport’s biggest stars on the back of another blistering knockout.
Romero has lost his last two fights, but the former Olympic medallist remains one of the most feared men in the division.
Whittaker was originally supposed to fight on the same card against hard-hitting Alaskan Jared Cannonier, but withdrew last week due to personal reasons.
Originally published as UFC 248: Israel Adesanya to defend middleweight title against Yoel Romero