Israel Adesanya moves past UFC’s Featherweight champ Alexander Volkanovski to become the second pound-for-pound best in the UFC. The Middleweight Champion of the world, Stylebender Israel Adesanya is fresh off his fourth (though Adesanya emphasizes on this being his fifth defense owing to his first defense of interim belt during the unification bout) title defense against Robert Whittaker at UFC 271.
In the latest UFC rankings, Israel Adesanya sits behind Kamaru Usman as the second-best pound-for-pound fighter in the UFC. Undefeated in the middleweight division, Adesanya’s first loss of his MMA career came against Jan Blachowicz in his attempt to grab the light-heavyweight championship. Since then, he has defended the middleweight gold against Marvin Vettori, and more recently against Robert Whittaker. UFC 271 title fight between Adesanya and Whittaker marked the second time that both these fighters shared the UFC Octagon.
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Buy all the Loui V, Gucci and Fendi belts you want boy. I earnt mines through blood, sweat and tears…priceless!! It’s easy to be the bigger man when you are thee bigger MAN! #andstill ????????✨ pic.twitter.com/A5XAVZ5fva— Israel Adesanya (@stylebender) February 13, 2022
The bout marked Robert Whittaker’s second straight loss against Israel Adesanya, who has been on an absolute tear in the UFC’s Middleweight division. Adesanya’s dominance in the 185-pound division has made many ponder whether he should move up a weight class. However, Adesanya still keeps the idea of moving up a weight class as a distant thought. For the time being, he is looking for fresh blood and has expressed his desire to fight Jared Cannonier next.
Israel Adesanya targeting Jared Cannonier during the Summer
Soon after his unanimous decision win over Robert Whittaker at UFC 271 this past weekend, The New-Zealander expressed his desire to compete against Jared Cannonier and called out the Killa Gorilla for a showdown in June. Speaking to Daniel Cormier during the post-fight Octagon interview, “I know June doesn’t have a pay per view yet like I said I am the new dog in the yard, I am the big dog in the yard now and I know the other dog Jared Cannonier dis some work tonight. Yeah, I am pissing in this cage next time in June. Watch me.” Jared Cannonier is riding on a two-fight win streak with his biggest win coming against Derek Brunson on the same night at UFC 271.