All articles tagged with #israel adesanya
Israel Adesanya watched UFC 325 from home, loudly coaching teammate Dan Hooker as Saint-Denis dominated with ground-and-pound, sending Hooker to a 14th career loss; Hooker has hinted at a rematch or a bout with Michael Chandler for a June White House event, but no opponent is confirmed.
Israel Adesanya compared Gaethje vs Pimblett at UFC 324 to the historic Bonnar-Griffin clash, suggesting the bout could help spark a new era for the UFC. Gaethje won the five-round interim title fight by decision, while Pimblett faces a tougher road back to title contention, and Adesanya’s reaction underscored the perceived significance of the event despite some fan criticism.
Justin Gaethje and Paddy Pimblett delivered a dramatic five-round main event at UFC 324, the first show under the Paramount deal, with Gaethje controlling much of the action and Pimblett showing immense heart. Israel Adesanya called the bout a watershed moment akin to the Spike TV era’s Griffin–Bonner classic, suggesting the new Paramount era started with a bang and drew wide attention to the sport.
Israel Adesanya predicts that Jack Della Maddalena will knock out Islam Makhachev at UFC 322, expecting an early finish and challenging the expectations for the fight, which has sparked mixed reactions among fans.
Alex Pereira, at 38, reclaimed his light heavyweight UFC title with a first-round TKO against Magomed Ankalaev, prompting an ecstatic reaction from Israel Adesanya, his former rival, who praised Pereira's aggressive performance. Adesanya also reflected on his own UFC title win six years ago and his past fights with Pereira.
Israel Adesanya predicts that the outcome of UFC 319's main event between Dricus du Plessis and Khamzat Chimaev will hinge on the early minutes, with Chimaev likely to dominate early or Du Plessis potentially weathering the storm and winning in later rounds. The fight is highly anticipated, with predictions favoring a quick finish for Chimaev or a late TKO for Du Plessis.
Tom Aspinall shared a heartfelt moment with Israel Adesanya at UFC 317, where Adesanya praised Aspinall's interim heavyweight title defense, emphasizing its significance, and Aspinall expressed gratitude, highlighting the camaraderie and mutual respect among fighters.
Israel Adesanya predicts Jon Jones's retirement is temporary, believing the UFC legend will return due to the drama and social media hype, despite Jones's recent retirement announcement after a potential fight with Tom Aspinall.
Joaquin Buckley criticized Israel Adesanya publicly after Adesanya's comments about him watching his fight, calling out Adesanya for not being a 'real fighter' and expressing willingness to fight him again, even at middleweight, after his recent loss to Kamaru Usman.
Israel Adesanya recalls a warning from Dana White before his UFC 293 fight against Sean Strickland, which he lost, marking a career slump. He reflects on the fight and expresses interest in a rematch with Strickland to face his best version, while also being more selective with his future fights.
Israel Adesanya reacted with excitement to Michael Chandler's dramatic slams on Charles Oliveira during the UFC 309 co-main event. Despite Chandler's late efforts, Oliveira secured a victory and a title shot in the lightweight division. Chandler, now with a 2-4 record in the UFC, expressed interest in a rematch with Conor McGregor.
Israel Adesanya predicts Jon Jones will easily defeat Stipe Miocic in their UFC 309 heavyweight title fight. Jones, who impressed in his heavyweight debut by quickly submitting Ciryl Gane, is expected by Adesanya to finish Miocic within the first two rounds. Miocic, a former two-time champion, hasn't fought since losing to Francis Ngannou in 2021.
Alex Pereira welcomes Jamahal Hill seeking advice from Israel Adesanya, expressing confidence in Hill's readiness for their UFC 300 bout despite injury layoff. Pereira, aiming for a successful title defense, dismisses speculation about moving up in weight class and emphasizes his focus on defending the light heavyweight title. He also playfully suggests that Hill's decision to train with Adesanya could lead to frustration, given Pereira's previous victories over both fighters.
Robert Whittaker expresses disappointment over potential middleweight title fight between Dricus du Plessis and Israel Adesanya, acknowledging the draw of Adesanya and the champion's request for the matchup. Whittaker envisions Adesanya dominating du Plessis for five rounds but also acknowledges du Plessis' toughness and potential to disrupt Adesanya's rhythm. Meanwhile, Whittaker is focused on his own upcoming fight against Khamzat Chimaev at UFC Saudi Arabia.
Israel Adesanya reveals that he was offered a fight against Dricus du Plessis for UFC 300, but du Plessis and his team declined, likely due to injuries sustained in his previous fight. Adesanya expressed willingness to fight despite injuries and hinted at a potential future showdown in Africa, as both fighters remain on a collision course for a different date.