UFC interim champion Israel Adesanya is set to take on undisputed middleweight titleholder Robert Whittaker in the main event of UFC 243 on Saturday, October 5 in Melbourne, Australia. If he is successful, Adesanya will have unified the 185-pound titles and will be looking for his next big challenge.
Could a superfight be waiting?
Throughout the past year, Adesanya and light heavyweight champion Jon Jones have taken plenty of verbal jabs at each other in the media. Both men agreed that they will meet at one point down the line, though there was never any indication on when their paths may cross. However, that could be sooner rather than later, according to UFC president Dana White who seemed open to the idea of Jones vs. Adesanya in a recent interview.
If Adesanya defeats Whittaker and wants to challenge Jones, White said that is a bout he would be interested in.
“Yeah, those guys have been talking smack back and forth,” White said while speaking to Sky Sports New Zealand. “If Israel wins and he really does want to fight Jon Jones, that’s a really big fight.”
Don’t tempt us with a good time, Dana.
During an appearance on The MMA Hour back in April, Adesanya commented on his rivalry with Jones and where the smack talk initially stemmed from.
“Jon Jones, he literally just reminds me of what I’ve hated most in life, and that’s bullies,” Adesanya said. “I’ve had them through high school, coming up. Literally he’s a jock, he’s a cock, and he’s a c*nt He’s picking the right time. He’s a smart boy. He knows I’m a challenge. Jon Jones likes to look for challenges because there’s a reason. He’s started all this. He’s the one that came out openly (after UFC 234 in February) and called me out and said, ‘I’d like to fight Israel Adesanya.’
“He knows I’m a threat. But guess what, I’ve said this for so long: If you want to beat me, do it yesterday. Every f*cking fight I get better. I get better every fight. So if he wants to try to take me out early on when he knows I’m only a year in the UFC, and I’m still learning.”
But first things first, Adesanya will have to get past Whittaker.
UFC 243 takes place on Saturday, October 5 at Marvel Stadium in Melbourne, Australia. The main card will kickoff on pay-per-view at 10:00 p.m. ET.