Rising UFC middleweight Israel Adesanya has said he recently sat down with UFC president Dana White in Sydney, Australia to map out his future in the promotion. According to ‘The Last Stylebender,’ the talk went very well and his next fight could be something ‘historic.’
Adesanya (15-0) recently extended his undefeated record at UFC 230 earlier this month, knocking out Derek Brunson in the first round. The 29-year-old dominated Brad Tavares to win an unanimous decision in July, Adesanya benefited from these dominant fights by earning a total of $100,000 in post-fight bonuses.
“When I sit in front of someone, you can feel me, you can really understand what I’m saying, you can feel my passion,” Adesanya told Submission Radio. “So, it’s different than doing it over the phone. Yeah, he’s on board with my plan now and he likes it. I sold him the idea. You guys wait till everything comes to fruition. If the other guy says yes – I should say when he says yes – I don’t know, but I feel like when he says yes, it’s gonna be historic, it’s gonna be something that you guys are gonna buzz over it. And then later on, what I have planned after that, that’s gonna be sick as well. So yeah, in due time everything will unfold.”
Although Adesanya has not named the opponent he has in mind for his next fight, he has shut down talks of being a back-up fighter for the middleweight title fight between current champion Robert Whittaker and Kelvin Gastelum at UFC 234 next year.
“I have a different plan. My plan. It just feels like being a backup would … not jeopardize it. Yeah, just, I’d rather not.” Adesanya said. “I have a different plan, let’s just put it that way. Eventually you guys will find out soon enough.
“We had the same opponent in mind but just he had a different plan of action. So, as soon as I sold him my one, he was like, ‘Yup, I like that. I love it. Let’s go’. So, it’s different when I’m in front of you. Like, I’m not here to just f*ck around, I’m not here to just beat around the bush, I say what I say and I do what I do. So yeah, he understood and he’s a man. He’s got his own plans, not just for my fight, but for the UFC and onwards as well that you guys will find out later on.”
Get the latest gear
