Israel Adesanya To Meet With Dana White In Australia, Discuss Potential Title Fight

Ultimate Fighting Championship President Dana White will be meeting up with UFC middleweight contender Israel Adesanya during his time down under to discuss a potential future title fight in the 185-pound division.

White is currently in Australia attending GQ Magazine’s Man of the Year awards as well as promoting upcoming UFC events taking place in Australia including UFC Fight Night 142 in Adelaide next month and UFC 234 which has just been announced in Melbourne for next February. UFC 234 features a middleweight title fight between Australian middleweight champion Robert Whittaker and Kelvin Gastelum, capping off a season spent as opposing coaches on “The Ultimate Fighter.”

Adesanya’s dominant victory over top-10 opponent Derek Brunson has pushed the undefeated Nigerian-born New Zealander into title contention. White was recently interviewed by the Daily Telegraph and stated that part of his travels to Australia includes meeting “The Last Stylebender” with negotiations set to take place for the 29-year-old to face the winner of Whittaker and Gastelum.

“It’s very possible, yes,” White said. “That’s why he’s flying in here, Israel wants to meet with me and talk. When he read that I was flying in here this week, he said he wanted to come across and talk, and that’s awesome.”

The UFC boss acknowledged the blockbuster potential of a fight between Whittaker and Adesanya in Australia. “That would certainly make the most sense,” White said. “In fact, if these two guys [Whittaker & Adesanya] fight, it’s something I would really look at doing in a stadium here. Israel is one of those guys who, if he can deliver, if he can win a world title, he will be incredibly famous. And famous all over the planet, this kid can be incredibly big. I love everything about him. The way he talks, the way he fights… and the kid wants to fight every month.”