Israel Adesanya claims he is the reason his fight with Rob Whittaker at UFC 243 will break records

The Australian-New Zealand battle headlining UFC 243 is set to break records - but Israel Adesanya says it is he and not reigning champion Rob Whittaker who is driving fan interest

Israel Adesanya (right) taunts during the UFC 234 Middleweight Bout between Israel Adesanya of Nigeria v Anderson Silva of Brazil at Rod Laver Arena in Melbourne, Saturday, February 9, 2019. (AAP Image/Daniel Pockett) NO ARCHIVING, EDITORIAL USE ONLY

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Unbeaten UFC prodigy Israel Adesanya says it is him, not Robert Whittaker, who should be credited for the largest fight in Australian history, declaring: “I’m the A-side of this thing”.

Undoubtedly the fastest rising star in mixed martial arts, Adesanya has told The Daily Telegraph his record and rapidly expanding highlights reel are why a crowd of over 50,000 are predicted for his UFC 243 headliner against middleweight champ Whittaker in Melbourne, Sunday.

On social media, fans have also suggested the UFC is using more footage of Adesanya in its promotional videos to hype the possible sell out at Marvel Arena.

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Adesanya has experienced a rapid rise. AAP Image/Daniel Pockett.

Regardless, the outspoken Kiwi has no doubt that when the company’s attendance record falls Sunday, it will be because of him.

Despite only making his UFC debut in February last year, Adesanya has already fought six times inside the Octagon, with his unbeaten streak boasting the scalps of Brazilian great Anderson Silva and US star Kelvin Gastelum, against whom he claimed the interim middleweight strap in April.

In that same timeframe, Whittaker has fought only the once -- earning a contentious, split decision against Cuban Yoel Romero.

All of which now has Adesanya, 30, convinced it is him driving ticket sales for an event looking to break the UFC attendance record.

“Look, I’m the A-side of this thing,” he said.

“And I know when I say that, it may sound biased. But look at who has been doing the work.

Adesanya is a natural showman. AAP Image/James Ross.

“If Rob were fighting someone else, somebody like Chris Wedman, any other fighter really, do you think he would fill out this stadium?

“I’m the A-side.

“And that’s not me just saying it, I have the work to back it up.

“When I was asked about breaking records a while back, I said ‘I won’t chase those numbers, they’ll chase me’.

“And look at us now.

“So I will be breaking them, I’ll be busting it wide open.”

But as for the UFC playing favourites with the the livewire Kiwi?

“Absolutely not,” promoter Dana White said when asked if his promotions team were favouring the challenger. “We’re definitely not playing favourites.

“Robert Whittaker is the champion.

Adesanya is unbeaten. Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images.

“He’s undefeated at middleweight, has owned the title belt for some time now and already boasts a great following down there in Australia.

“Everyone knows who Robert Whittaker is.

“So (in those videos) we’re trying to show you guys who the challenger is, this undefeated challenger from New Zealand.”

Elsewhere, Adesanya predicted he would have few problems against Whittaker, despite the Australian being on an unbeaten run of nine straight wins, including consecutive five round wars against Romero.

“I’ll pick him apart quite easily,” the Kiwi said.

And as for how he feels about fighting in front of over 50,000 people?

“When the cage door shuts,” he deadpanned, “none of that stuff matters”.

Originally published as Israel Adesanya claims he is the reason his fight with Rob Whittaker at UFC 243 will break records