What’s Next For Israel Adesanya?

Israel Adesanya and Robert Whittaker at UFC 271 — Adesanya Lands a Knee to Robert Whittakers Jaw during their watchup at UFC 271 on Saturday Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images

Israel Adesanya defended his title at UFC 271 on Saturday night in Houston, and some people say it was a controversial decision. We on the other hand are looking forward to seeing who is next for the Middleweight Champion, who has dominated the division for so long. One obvious fight would be against Jared Cannonier who put on a great performance also on Saturday night. Could a fight with another champion be in the cards for Adesanya whether it be someone moving up to face him or Adesanya moving up. In this piece we go over the options for one of the best strikers in MMA history.

Jared Cannonier holds a great record at 15-5 and most think that he’d be an interesting match up for Adesanya. Cannonier is on a two fight win streak and has not faced Adesanya. Cannonier is a purple belt in Jiu Jitsu and might have the skills to take Adesanya down and submit him. Cannonier’s size is really his biggest advantage Cannonier has fought at Heavyweight, Light Heavyweight, and now at Middleweight. He also has Knockout power with 10 of his 15 wins coming by way of Knockout.

Another fight I think fans would love to see is a matchup between Adesanya and Welterweight Champion Kamaru Usman. Usman has lapped his division and there’s really nothing more for him to prove at 170. I think fans would love to see these two stellar Martial Artists go head to head with each other. They’ve talked about fighting in the past, but due to their friendship, and the money issue not being correct.

I think that they have not actually firmly said they want to get into the Octagon and see who comes out on top. Usman and Adesanya both have really good takedown defense so this would likely be two of the best strikers standing and throwing shots at each other till someone gets knocked out or the final bell rings.

Another possibility would be Adesanya moving up to Light Heavyweight to try to become a double champ. Light Heavyweight is not a very deep division since the departure of Jon Jones it has really looked for an identity. I think Adesanya trying to move up again and getting the winner of Glover Teixeira and Jiri Prochazka which will be going down at UFC 274 in May. Adesanya recently tried to go up in weight to face former Lightweight Champion Jan Błachowicz but was unable to secure Champ Champ status.

Adesanya has some good fights to pick from, and we hope that he secures another title defense or goes after another title in his next outing.

UFC 271 Preview

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UFC 271 is right around the corner headlined by an awesome title fight between Robert Whittaker and Champion Israel Adesanya. Also featured on the card is a bout between Derek Brunson and Jared Cannonier. The Co main event on this killer card is a bout between Heavyweights, Derrick Lewis and the King of the shoeie Tai Tuivasa.

The first bout of note on the main card is between Derek Brunson and Jared Cannonier. Brunson is coming off a win against Darren Till in September of 2021. Brunson is riding a five fight win streak and is currently ranked fourth in the UFC Middleweight division. He will face number three ranked Jared Cannonier. Cannonier is coming off a win against Kelvin Gastelum who he beat via Unanimous Decision. Cannonier beat Gastelum after being out of the Octagon since October of 2020 after healing from an injury sustained in his loss to Robert Whittaker. He hopes to put an end to Blonde Brunson’s streak. It is expected that the winner might face the winner of Adesanya vs. Whittaker. This is one of the only times a title eliminator is on the same night as the title fight in that division.

The next bout of note is between Lewis and Tuivasa and honestly both are fan favorites so this fight will definitely sell PPV cards. Lewis is coming off a win against Chris Daukas during UFC Fight Night main event in December of last year. Lewis was coming off a loss going into that fight against Ciryl Gane. Lewis has a tough opponent in Tuivasa who is riding a three fight win streak.

In an interview with Espn Tuaviasa was quoted as saying in regards to accepting a fight with Lewis, “I was on the piss; I was blind [drunk], I didn’t notice until the next morning that [UFC matchmaker] Mick Maynard messaged me and I had messaged back. He messaged, ‘Are you awake,’ and I was like, ‘Yeah’; it was like 4:30 in the morning. And then I woke up to 20 missed calls from my manager, from my coach Sully [Shaun Sullivan] and s**t like that, so I was like, ‘Something must have happened.’” Tuivasa has a taste for beer and drinks it out of a show when he wins. Lewis is also known to do ridiculous stuff after his fights including throwing his cup into the audience after his fight with Daukas. It’ll be interesting to see who wins and who gets to do their odd celebrations.

The main event is truly a great fight between the two best Middleweights in the UFC. Adesanya will be making his fourth title defense against Whittaker who he won the Middleweight title against at UFC 243 in October of 2019 by Knockout. Adesanya has been absolutely unstoppable at Middleweight winning every contest he has ever fought at 185. His only loss in MMA came as a result of a move up to attempt to become a double champion by taking then Light Heavyweight Champion Jan Błachowicz’s title. Robert Whittaker has been on a three fight win streak since losing his title to Adesanya including victories over Darren Till, Jared Cannonier, and Kelvin Gastelum. Before losing to Adesanya, Whittaker was on an impressive nine fight win streak including wins over Derek Brunson, Ronaldo Souza, and Yoel Romero.

UFC 271 is a banger to be sure. Don’t forget to tune in as it will be a good time, with great fights, and some of the promotion’s best and most interesting fighters.

3 Great Fights Coming Up In February

‘Blonde Brunson’ after his victory over Darren Till. Photo Courtesy of Getty Images

The UFC took a small break over the holidays and we’re now back into the swing of things and the UFC has some awesome fights coming up in February. Including a PPV card for UFC 271 and some other great fights that are on Fight Night cards.

Derek Brunson Vs Jared Cannonier

Derek Brunson will be making his return to the UFC Octagon in February at UFC 271 when he faces Jared Cannonier. Brunson is coming off a win against Darren Till in September of 2021. Brunson is riding a five fight win streak and is currently ranked fourth in the UFC Middleweight division. He will face number three ranked Jared Cannonier. Cannonier is coming off a win against Kelvin Gastelum who he beat via Unanimous Decision. Cannonier beat Gastelum after being out of the Octagon since October of 2020 after healing from an injury sustained in his loss to Robert Whittaker. He hopes to put an end to Blonde Brunson’s streak. It is expected that the winner might face the winner of Adesanya vs. Whittaker.

Israel Adesanya vs. Robert Whittaker 2

Israel Adesanya will return to the UFC Octagon at UFC 271 to make his fourth title defense against Robert Whittaker who he won the Middleweight title against at UFC 243 in October of 2019 by KO. Adesanya has been absolutely unstoppable at Middleweight winning every contest he has ever fought at 185. His only loss in MMA came as a result of a move up to attempt to become a double champion by taking then Light Heavyweight Champion Jan Błachowicz’s title. Robert Whittaker has been on a three fight win streak since losing his title to Adesanya including victories over Darren Till, Jared Cannonier, and Kelvin Gastelum. Before losing to Adesanya, Whittaker was on an impressive nine fight win streak including wins over Derek Brunson, Ronaldo Souza, and Yoel Romero.

Islam Makachev vs. Beneil Dariush

Islam Makhachev is hailed by some as the second coming of former Lightweight Champion Khabib Nurmagomedov. Some even say that even though Makhachev is not undefeated like his mentor Nurmagomedov, he is a better fighter. Mackachev is riding a nine fight win streak and before his loss to Adriano Martins at UFC 192 he was riding an impressive twelve fight win streak. Makhachev hopes that with a win over Beneil Dariush he will get closer to a title fight than ever before. Makachev is a threat to anyone when he steps into the UFC Octagon.

Dariush Is also riding a win streak of his own winning his last seven fights including victories over prominent Lightweights like Tony Ferguson. Dariush is a Black Belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and is also a Black Belt in Muay Thai so it’ll be interesting which weapons in his arsenal he will pull out when he faces Makhachev.Dariush had a rough patch in his early fight career, but has proved over and over again that he should be in title contention.