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Israel Adesanya won the UFC Middleweight Championship from Robert Whittaker with a second-round KO on Sunday at Marvel Stadium.
The UFC Middleweight Championship is on the line in one of Australia’s most important fights. Champion Robert Whittaker looks to defend his title against Interim Champion Israel Adesanya. Join The Roar from 1pm AEDT for live round-by-round action.
Since moving up to middleweight from welterweight, champion Robert Whittaker has been on an absolute tear.
The New Zealand-born Sydney-sider has become the prime example that fighting in your natural weight class is better for your body – and your career.
Whittaker is currently riding a nine-fight win streak, beating Yoel Romero twice in his last two fights. Once with a hurt leg, and the other time when Romero missed weight.
The Reaper won the interim title in 2017 and was later promoted to undisputed champion, but he is yet to officially defend his undisputed belt.
He has however beaten some of the best the middleweight division has to offer, including Derek Brunson, Rafael Natal and Ronaldo Jacare Souza – whom he knocked out with a head kick.
But against Israel Adesanya he faces a very different challenge.
Adesanya has never lost a fight and has proven he can dominate fights, but also overcome adversity.
In his last bout he edged past Kelvin Gastelum in a gruelling five-round interim title fight, but had the fight gone on another second or two Adesanya would have got the finish.
He also holds a win over Anderson Silva – a man many believe to be the greatest of all time.
But Adesanya has also made headlines outside of the octagon. He’s confident in his ability and makes no secret of the fact that he wants to be known as the greatest of all time.
Recently he expressed his desire to one day fight light heavyweight champion Jon Jones, leading to some intense exchanges over social media.
If Adesanya is able to get past Whittaker, it could set up that super fight.
Prediction
Stylistically, it’s a fascinating matchup. Adesanya is unlike anyone Whittaker has faced before, but Whittaker has proven himself adaptable already. Expect a close, gruelling fight.
Robert Whittaker to defeat Israel Adesanya via split decision.
Time: 1pm AEDT
Venue: Marvel Stadium, Melbourne
Coverage: Live, Pay-Per-View
Betting: Robert Whittaker $1.81, Israel Adesanya ($2)
Scheduled Bouts (3x 5 minute rounds, title fight 5x 5 minute rounds)
Middleweight championship: (C) Robert ‘The Reaper’ Whittaker (21-4) vs (IC) Israel ‘The Last StyleBender’ Adesanya (17-0)
Lightweight: #6 ‘Raging’ Al Iaquinta (14-4-1) vs #15 Dan ‘The Hangman’ Hooker (18-8)
Heavyweight: #14 Tai ‘Bam Bam’ Tuivasa (10-1) vs Serghei ‘Polar Bear’ Spivac (9-0)
Welterweight: Luke ‘The Jedi’ Jumeau (13-4) vs Dhiego Lima (15-7)
Heavyweight: Justin ‘Bad Man’ Tafa (3-0) vs Yorgan ‘The Mad Titan’ De Castro (5-0)
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