‘He’s a d***head’: UFC star Israel Adesanya’s stunning personal attack on Aussie rival
UFC star Israel Adesanya has blasted his rival Rob Whittaker, labelling the Aussie “a d***head” and questioning his character.
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Israel Adesanya feels his criticism of Robert Whittaker before their first fight has been vindicated, following the Aussie’s admission he let pride and anger get the better of him.
Former middleweight king Whittaker recently admitted his ego got the better of him ahead of his ill-fated title defence against Adesanya in October 2019.
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Fan favourite Adesanya felt The Reaper wasn’t being true to himself ahead of their trans-Tasman tussle, so much so he branded him a “fake”.
The Nigerian-born Kiwi copped plenty of flak from the UFC fanbase for his pre-fight comments, which he believes ring true now more than ever.
Adesanya, speaking as an ambassador for leading cryptocurrency betting and gaming operator Stake.com, told The Sun: “It was his ego, but I called it from (before) the fight.
“I said, ‘He’s acting out of character.’ And I said also, ‘He’s not being himself.’
“And people were like, ‘Oh, he’s such a good guy. He’s such a good’ (this and that). And I’m like, ‘He’s a d***head. You guys just don’t see it.’
“And now he’s admitted that it was his ego that got the best of him.
“And I’m like, ‘Well I told you so.’ You should’ve listened to me, listen to your dad.”
Whittaker, 31, suffered a second-round TKO loss to Adesanya on a historic UFC 243 card at Melbourne’s Marvel Stadium but made no excuses for coming up short against The Last Stylebender.
In fact, he admitted he went into the fight feeling the best he’s ever felt — an admission that has Adesanya wondering how he’ll handle a second defeat in their rematch at UFC 272 later this month.
The 32-year-old asked: “What else is he going to say (after I beat him again)?
“He said right after the fight, ‘That’s the best I’ve ever felt.’ I remember that, I do not forget that.
“So that was the best he’s ever felt? Bet. If he can get better, I’m sure he’s got better, bring the best. And I’ll beat him again.”
Motivation hasn’t been an issue for Adesanya ahead of his second showdown with the resurgent Whittaker, who has won his last three on the spin.
And he’s hellbent on bettering his spectacular finish of the beloved Aussie, saying of the possibility of overlooking his foe: “That’s not been the case this time.
“It’s actually made me more motivated to do it again and do it more decisively, if that’s even possible. Which it is, I believe so.
“That’s what’s my motivation for this fight, that’s what got me up for this fight.
“Was to do it again in a more devastating fashion.”
This article originally appeared in The Sun and was repurposed with permission.
Originally published as ‘He’s a d***head’: UFC star Israel Adesanya’s stunning personal attack on Aussie rival
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