This Saturday, Israel Adesanya has the chance to compete for his first UFC title when he takes on Kelvin Gastelum at UFC 236 in Atlanta, Ga. But if Adesanya has his way, it won’t be his last one.
Last month, UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones said he “has a feeling” he will fight Adesanya one day and “The Last Stylebender” agrees.
“He was right and when I heard about it - I think maybe two days after he said it - I was like, ‘Oh, really?’” Adesanya told TMZ Sports recently. “I had receipts. I had some screenshots from prior and then I posted them to show that I was already on that same plane. So yeah, great minds think alike.”
It’s easy to see why a fight between the two could be in the offing somewhere down the line. Jones is arguably the greatest fighter in the history of the sport and Adesanya is perhaps the most hyped prospect since Jones. The middleweight contender made his UFC debut last February and has since racked up five wins and four performance bonuses. His last fight was in February against another all time great, Anderson Silva, and since then, Adesanya says he’s gotten a taste for GOAT.
“It does tickle my loins,” Adesanya said. “It does make me feel some type of way. I like challenges. [Jones] is the GOAT right now, right? I’ve already killed one GOAT, I’m hunting the next.”
But Adesanya isn’t counting his chickens just yet. When asked how he matches up with Jones, The Last Stylebender said that was something to worry about later, he has plenty to do at middleweight first.
“Focus on this weekend,” Adesanya said. “That’s way down the line. I’ve still got to run through all these middleweights first. So we’ll focus on that later on. That’s just a little teaser. Later on we’ll talk about that.”
It’s wise of Adesanya to not get ahead of himself because this weekend presents his toughest fight yet in the Octagon. Since moving up to middleweight, Kelvin Gastelum has been on a tear and his aggressive, pressuring style figures to be one of the harder matchups for The Last Stylebender. Adesanya isn’t worried though, he’s convinced he’s too good.
“I’m looking forward to the fight itself, fighting against a warrior like Gastelum,” Adesanya said. “He presents some good challenges. Certain things he does really well. Only a few things, but I have a lot of things I do very, very well. He’s durable so I just have to do what I do and slow cook him. Don’t rush, take my time. I want to touch him as much as possible and anyone I touch on any level - head, legs, body - they can’t handle it. So eventually, within five rounds, he will fall.”
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VIDEO STEW
The MMA Beat.
Embedded.
Forrest breaks down Izzy-Gastelum.
Anatomy of a Fighter.
Izzy BTS.
MMA middleweight rankings history.
LISTEN UP
The MMA Vivisection. Previewing the biggest fights at UFC 236.
UFC Unfiltered. Interviews with Israel Adesanya, Alan Jouban, and Rodney Atkins.
SOCIAL MEDIA BOUILLABAISSE
This is awesome.
story time:
— Phil Murphy (@Phil_Sports) April 11, 2019
before UFC 187, @bokamotoESPN and I flew to Blackzilians for a story on Rumble Johnson. at the time, he was prepping to fight Jon Jones
Henri Hooft flew out this kid (3-0 MMA) from New Zealand to mimick Jon in sparring sessions
that kid was @stylebender pic.twitter.com/IDu3R9lCYV
Cody still on it.
Why don’t you guys stand behind what you have told us! If you want the fighters to be honest you must first be honest with the fighters! https://t.co/k8OjXeh1Xn
— Cody Garbrandt (@Cody_Nolove) April 11, 2019
I’ve been tested by @usantidoping over 30 times and of those times under 10 were blood samples. Only certain things can be trace by urine. Cheaters will always find a way to cheat especially in a fool proof system.
— Cody Garbrandt (@Cody_Nolove) April 11, 2019
I asked for more strict drug testing when I was slated to fight Tj, even said what he was on and it still went un tested. Now usada is saying they can’t go back on the frozen piss cause they didn’t have the money to store it ?
— Cody Garbrandt (@Cody_Nolove) April 11, 2019
I’ll take a lie detector test right now stating that I’ve never performed in the @ufc under any Performance Enhancing Drug! Drug Free World Champ! https://t.co/g0ZYDRln4h
— Cody Garbrandt (@Cody_Nolove) April 11, 2019
Awesome.
Who did he teach ? Come on we’re all curious
— Brian Kelleher (@brianboom135) April 11, 2019
Cheaters.
they need to ban cheaters for life!!
— JIMI MANUWA (@POSTERBOYJM) April 12, 2019
MMA is the hardest sport in the world and we as pure fighters love it !! there should be zero tolerance for cheaters ! fuck you
— JIMI MANUWA (@POSTERBOYJM) April 12, 2019
Bryce Mitchell is all of us.
What the fuck is EPO
— Bryce Mitchell (@ThugnastyMMA) April 11, 2019
Certified official.
Cejudo.
What do you know! The Olympic Champ at the Olympic Park. #UFC236 #atlantageorgia #olympicpark pic.twitter.com/9PgyDQiQqd
— Henry Cejudo (@HenryCejudo) April 12, 2019
If y’all don’t know, Gable Stevenson finished 3rd in the NCAAs this year as a true freshman and is a decorated juniors wrestler. Big time heavyweight prospect.
I wanna fight @ufc
— Gable Steveson (@GSteveson) April 10, 2019
FIGHT ANNOUNCEMENTS
Danny Roberts (16-4) vs. Michel Pereira (22-9, 2 NC); UFC Rochester, May 18.
FINAL THOUGHTS
Good week everyone. Solid effort all around. Why don’t you all take the day off and enjoy a long weekend?
Thanks for reading and see y’all on Monday.
EXIT POLL
Poll
Who wins the main event this weekend?
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