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- Whittaker set for historic UFC title fights
- Sydney brothers take UFC by storm
ISRAEL Adesanya needs only one more win for a blockbuster showdown with UFC middleweight champ Robert Whittaker, a fighter he says “I can beat wherever I want”.
After jetting into Sydney for a meeting with UFC boss Dana White on Wednesday, New Zealand’s fighting phenom told The Daily Telegraph he had verbally agreed to challenge a big-name opponent in what will effectively double as a world title eliminator.
Unbeaten in four UFC appearances, the 29-year-old hinted that a fifth straight win would catapult him into a title fight against whoever holds the belt after UFC 234 — set to be headlined by Whittaker and American Kelvin Gastelum in Melbourne.
And if Australia’s No.1 fighter successfully defends for a second time?
“Then I beat him wherever I want,” Adesanya shrugged.
“If I’m being frank, Rob is lacking defensively and that’s where I’ll take him. And I can do that any way I want.
“I know he’s a fighter who wants to go out there and bust people up, but I’m not a guy you mess with.
“And once I’m champion, there will be a lot more eyes on this division. I’m the guy making s… happen.”
Asked about his lengthy meeting with White, Adesanya continued: “We discussed my next fight and reached an agreement on who that opponent should be.
“So now I’m just waiting for the ‘OK’.”
And as for said bout being his ticket into a potential trans-Tasman blockbuster with Whittaker?
“Ah, yeah,” he confirmed. “I can’t tell you too much but it’s now not a matter of if I fight for the title but when.
“Everything is panning out exactly as I expected.”
UFC: Brash Nigerian-born Kiwi Israel Adesanya makes light work of USA’s Derek Brunson in their middleweight bout at UFC 230 at Madison Square Garden.
Israel Adesanya ends Derek Brunson with Round 1 TKO
Currently the most exciting prospect on the UFC roster, Adesanya made the hectic return trip from New Zealand on Wednesday to ensure he could meet with White face to face.
Only 24 hours earlier, the UFC boss hinted at pitching “The Last Stylebender” into a title fight against the winner of UFC 234.
Better, White revealed that if Whittaker does retain his title against Gastelum in Melbourne — and Adesanya then wins his bout — the most likely option would be another blockbuster pay-per-view on Australian soil.
Early venue contenders would be ANZ Stadium in Sydney or Melbourne’s Etihad Stadium.
Asked about his decision to take two international flights within the space of a few hours to meet with White, Adesanya continued: “I find things tend to get lost in translation when you’re texting.
“But when I’m standing in front of you, you can feel me. Feel my energy.
“I wanted Dana White to see that I’m not stuffing around here. That I’m serious about what I want.”
After making his UFC debut in February, Adesanya has gone undefeated in four fights and moved to No.6 in the rankings with his exciting fight style.
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