While many had hoped the rematch between Australiaโs #1 UFC middleweight contender, Robert Whittaker, and the reigning division champion in New Zealandโs Israel Adesanya would finally occur next January, the blockbuster title fight has been delayed until February 2022 at UFC 271 (coinciding with the NFLโs Super Bowl LVI).
Whittakerโs agent Titus Day first alluded to the possibility while speaking to News Corp a few months prior. The major roadblock, of course, had involved Adesanyaโs inability to re-enter New Zealand if he were to compete stateside in light of current COVID-19 restrictions. For reference, Adesanyaโs City Kickboxing teammates โ Dan Hooker, Brad Riddell, Kai Kara-France โ have also been competing in the US with no guarantee of re-entry.
This obstacle was in tandem with the champโs initial request for the title fight to be hosted on home soil, overruling UFC President Dana Whiteโs desire to get the show going at Madison Square Garden for UFC 268. But now, UFC 271 wonโt be happening within New Zealand borders or at the hallowed grounds of Madison Square Garden. Instead, The Reaper and The Last Stylebender are set to clash at the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas.
โWeโve told the UFC to send the contracts. Rob is ready to go. He can fight December, January, Februaryโฆ heโs in great shape and ready to go.โ
Titus Day
RELATED: Robert Whittaker Is Ready To Reclaim His Crown From Israel Adesanya
The world of combat sports has been eagerly anticipating a rematch between Israel Adesanya and Robert Whittaker since the former claimed the middleweight world title via TKO at UFC 243. And when you consider Whittakerโs epic comeback trail, Adesanyaโs (failed) experiment in the light heavyweight division, as well as everything else in betweenโฆ Whittaker appears more than ready to reclaim his crown.
Speaking in regards to Adesanyaโs middleweight title defence against Italian contender Marvin Vettori at UFC 263, Whittaker didnโt exactly mince his words about Izzyโs performance.
โWatching that fight against Vettori, you can see heโs not untouchable,โ says Robert Whittaker.
โIt reinforced the fact that heโs very human. Very touchable. I actually thought his performance was average. Not average in the context of being bad. He never did anything more than what he had to do. He didnโt do anything flashy. He didnโt do anything more than necessary. Which is a good approach.โ
โNot average in the context of being bad. He never did anything more than what he had to do. He didnโt do anything flashy. He didnโt do anything more than necessary. Which is a good approach.โ
โBut it certainly doesnโt put you in the realm of the gods. Heโs definitely not a god. Heโs a very good fighter, sure. But heโs not as good as he thinks he is.โ
RELATED: UFC 269 โ Charles Oliveira Reminds The World Heโs A Stone-Cold Gangster
Adesanya, on the other hand, issued a โcalloutโ of his own in a far less gracious manner.
โThat other cuntโฆ whatโs his name? Rob Whittaker, Bobby Knuckles,โ says Israel Adesanya when prompted about who was next on his professional hit-list.
โI knocked him out twiceโฆ We need to run that back in Auckland. We need to run that back in my territory this time. Iโll tell you when it is. You donโt get to decide. I get to decide. Why? Iโm the motherfucking king, bitch.โ
Prior to Vettori II, Israel Adesanya recorded his first professional loss at the hands of UFC Light Heavyweight Champion, Jan Blachowicz. After failing to make an impact with his striking, The Last Stylebenderโs limited grappling was exposed, giving his Polish adversary the win via unanimous decision (and tarnishing his own undefeated professional MMA record).
โI understand why heโs been blown up to seem untouchable, on a different level to everyone else,โ adds Whittaker.
โBut I think his loss to Jan, followed by his average performance against Vettori โ it just confirms that he isnโt as untouchable as everyone thinks.โ
In contrast, Robert Whittaker has been in the form of his life. Returning as a more calculating and precise evolution of himself since the prolific loss in Melbourneโs Marvel Stadium, the local MMA talent and fan favourite put on a masterclass against Darren Till during a UFC Fight Night, completely dismantled Jared Cannonier during UFC 254, and made a grim example out of Kelvin Gastelum soon after. Somewhere during his epic comeback trail, the great man himself also delayed the Cannonier bout to donate some much-needed bone marrow towards his daughter Lilliana.
โIโm a much different fighter now. A different person. And I know I have the tools to beat him.โ
At the time of this writing, UFC 271: Robert Whittaker vs Israel Adesanya II is scheduled for February 13th of 2022 (AEDT). Hereโs every other announced bout so far:
UFC 271: Robert Whittaker vs Israel Adesanya II Main Card
- Bantamweight: Douglas Silva de Andrade vs Sergey Morozov
- Bantamweight: Kyler Phillips vs Marcelo Rojo
- Lightweight: Renato Moicano vs Alexander Hernandez
- Womenโs Flyweight: Roxanne Modafferi vs Casey OโNeill
- Lightweight: Mark Madsen vs Vinc Pichel
- Light Heavyweight: Carlos Ulberg vs Fabio Cherant
- Welterweight: Mike Mathetha vs Orion Cosce
- Bantamweight: Ronnie Lawrence vs Leomana Martinez
- Light Heavyweight: Ed Herman vs Maxim Grishin
