Israel Adesanya Expects Little Trouble from Whittaker Standing: 'I'll Pick Him Apart Easily'
Israel Adesanya’s confidence is sky-high heading into his middleweight title unification bout against Robert Whittaker, to the point that he doesn’t think it will be quite the clash of elite strikers that many observers predict.
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Whittaker hasn’t fought since his close split decision victory over Yoel Romero in June 2018, but despite the long layoff he’ll head into the fight as the betting favorite. During a media conference call for UFC 243, Adesanya claimed that he doesn’t see the Aussie champion posing much of a threat to him, especially if he decides to keep the fight standing. (Transcript via MMA Junkie):
“He’s a guy I can pick apart easily,” Adesanya said. “A challenge I haven’t faced before? I don’t think so. He just does what he does very well. There’s only a certain amount of awkwardness that he has that I haven’t seen before, but he can try to prove me wrong. From what I see, though, I’ll pick him apart quite easily.”
Adesanya said he’s ironed out some kinks in his game since his sensational interim title fight with Kelvin Gastelum back in April and warned Whittaker not to try and use to that fight as a way to find holes in his game.
“I have these attributes that I use very well, and I think what his camp might look at the last fight and think when Kelvin was able to get close,” Adesanya said. “That was just an error at our part and a good game plan on their part. But we’ve taken care of those errors. I’m going to be able to use my height and reach like I always have.”
One of the chief frustrations with Whittaker’s title reign has been his inactivity, brought about by a variety of injuries and illnesses. Adesanya claims that will change once he unifies the belts.
“As a champion, I’ll be a lot more active as a champion than he’s been, and I’ll be a lot more active,” Adesanya said. “Maybe not at the beginning because of timing and everything else, but I’ll be an active champion.”
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