UFC 263: Israel Adesanya takes care of business before declaring Robert Whittaker fight is happening
It’s happening. It’s just a matter of where when Australia’s Robert Whittaker gets to mix it up again with Kiwi Israel Adesanya, who made the call after his latest rout.
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Finally, Robert Whittaker has been given his shot at UFC middleweight title redemption.
With the only question now being where — and when.
Roughly 18 months after New Zealand superstar Israel Adesanya took his gold strap via devastating KO, Australia’s first UFC champ has been confirmed for a rematch by no less than the man who took his crown.
After defending for a third time against Italian Marvin Vettori at UFC 263 on Sunday, Adesanya stared down a camera barrel and said it was time to throw down again with the Sydneysider who has developed into an undeniable arch rival.
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As first revealed by News Corp earlier this week, Adesanya wants to rematch Whittaker at Auckland’s 60,000-seat Eden Park — a desire he doubled down on after defeating Vettori by unanimous decision in Glendale, Arizona.
However, such a venue is problematic on several fronts.
Given the ongoing travel restrictions imposed by New Zealand due to the Covid pandemic, Eden Park could be out of play as a legitimate UFC host until the end of this year or even early into 2022.
Already UFC president Dana White has said he will not bring a UFC card back to either Australia or New Zealand while current quarantining laws are in place.
Given his travelling roadshow involves more than 100 production and backroom staff, not to mention dozens of fighters and corners, there is no way they could all spend weeks quarantining before then going into usual fight week preparations for the Trans Tasman blockbuster.
However, speaking with UFC commentator Joe Rogan immediately after the win, Adesanya left nobody in any doubt about the stipulations his “arch nemesis” will have to endure if he wants the fight.
Asked who was next for him, The Last Stylebender grinned: “That other c---, what’s his name? Rob Whittaker, Bobby Knuckles.
“I knocked him out twice.
“So I don’t know what the f--- is going to happen with this whole Covid s---, but we need to run that back in Auckland.
“We need to run that back in my territory this time.”
Then, in words undeniably directed at his Aussie rival, he continued: “I’ll tell you when it is. You don’t get to decide. I get to decide.
“Cause why? I’m the motherf---ing king, b----.”
Yet regardless, the fight is on.
Despite losing his last fight against UFC light heavyweight champ Jan Blachowicz, Adesanya never looked in doubt, or even rarely troubled, against the Italian challenger he last beat via a split decision in 2018.
In fact, the champ produced five-round shut out, with all three judges giving him a perfect 50-45 scoreline.
Afterwards, Adesanya dedicated the win to his close friend and training partner Fau Vake, the 25-year-old who lost his life after an alleged assault in Auckland last month.
“This is for Fau Vake and his family,” he said. “Fau Vake, Fau Vake, Fau Vake … I love you.”
ADESANYA’S BIG DEMAND FOR WHITTAKER REMATCH
Israel Adesanya says Robert Whittaker must fly to New Zealand if he wants a rematch for the UFC middleweight title in 2021, with the All Blacks stronghold of Eden Park his preferred venue for the blockbuster.
Almost two years since defeating Australia’s first UFC champion, Adesanya is now gunning for his third straight title defence against Italian Marvin Vettori at UFC 263 in Glendale, Arizona on Sunday (AEST).
Should the New Zealander be successful against Vettori, he will then be catapulted into a second fight with Whittaker, who remains the division’s No. 1 contender.
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First time the pair fought, it was before almost 60,000 fans at Marvel Stadium, Melbourne — with Adesanya winning via devastating second round KO.
As a result, the fighter dubbed “Stylebender” said this week that if Whittaker wants a shot as challenger, he cannot expect to fight on home soil and must instead travel across the ditch.
Given the ongoing Covid restrictions in both New Zealand and Australia — and what that would mean for the scores of UFC officials, fighters and teams flying in from all over the world for the rematch — any bout between the pair this year would almost certainly have to take place in America.
However Adesanya insists he will be pushing UFC president Dana White to host the fight in his own backyard, listing Auckland’s 60,000-seat Eden Park as his pick of the venues.
“If that fight happens, we have to do it in New Zealand,” Adesanya said. “And at Eden Park”.
Over nearly 100 years, Eden Park has consistently been the hardest place in the world for international rugby teams, particularly the Wallabies, to beat New Zealand.
Incredibly, the All Blacks winning record at the ground sits at almost 90 per cent. It has also been 35 years since Australia last defeated the Kiwis at Eden Park.
Asked about the growing rivalry between the trans-Tasman fighters, Adesanya said: “He (Whittaker) has gone on record saying he doesn’t like me. And I appreciate that because I don’t like him either. The feeling is definitely mutual.”
Yet before any potential showdown with Bobby Knuckles, the reigning middleweight king must first rematch Vettori, who he beat via split decision in 2018.
While one judge scored their initial encounter for the Italian, Adesanya laughed off suggestions the fight had been even remotely close.
“That first fight, it wasn’t close for anyone who was watching and actually knows anything about fighting,” he said. “He (Vettori) probably took the third round.
“But the first two rounds, I dominated them. And while one judge saw otherwise — through a lack of understanding for the game — that doesn’t mean it was close.”
But as for now having the chance to end all debate for good?
“I look forward to running through him this time and shutting him up,” he said of Vettori. “I’m going to finish him. That way he has no hope of clinging on to anything to say he won.”
Since losing to Adesanya, the Italian has won five straight over rivals such as Kevin Holland and Jack Hermansson.
His 31-year-old rival meanwhile, suffered the first loss of his UFC career in March, when he went up a division to challenge Jan Blachowicz for the light heavyweight strap at UFC 259.
Blachowicz won the fight by decision, with Vettori telling media recently he believes Adesanya effectively quit in the fight.
“And let him believe that narrative,” the Kiwi said. “Maybe that’s how he gets to sleep at night. For me, nothing has changed since that loss. Nothing. I still plan to achieve everything I set out to initially. My story isn’t over yet.”
Anthem drama erupts amid boxing farce
Middleweight king Janibek Alimkhanuly’s title defence against Andrei Mikhailovich in Sydney has been rocked by farcical scenes.
‘Punishment for what he did’: Janibek makes brave Kiwi pay
Friday night’s world title fight descended into a farce before the bell rung, but despite the wrong national anthem being played for middleweight world champion Janibek Alimkhanuly, the Kazakh king took care of business.