Israel Adesanya has definitively cemented himself as the best middleweight in the UFC after 10 consecutive wins in the division, including five victories in title fights. But who does he consider the second-best fighter at 185 pounds?
This is a harder question than you think, considering how he’s torn through the competition and beaten many fighters within rankings. Adesanya will put aside rivalry to show respect for the man he is about to meet at UFC 271, even though he does throw some shade.
“Let me think, the second-best middleweight — it’s not a close second, I’ll tell you that,” Adesanya told MMA Fighting. “It’s a long way down. But right now it would be [Robert] Whittaker because of what he’s done in his last three fights.
” Credit to him. So, right now it would Whittaker. But it’s more than a few steps down the ladder.”
Considering Adesanya demolished Whittaker in their first meeting, he’s got every reason to feel like he’s head and shoulders above his competition, especially if the former middleweight champion really is No. 2 in the division.
Adesanya also won a pair over Marvin Vettori. He’s already beaten Paulo Costa in two rounds and took even less time for Derek Brunson to defeat him.
Based upon those kinds of results, Adesanya has every reason to feel like he’s that much superior than the rest of the fighters competing at 185 pounds, and he wouldn’t have it any other way.
“Definitely set myself apart from the pack because I’m the alpha,” Adesanya said. “[I’m] the big dog in the yard. “I’m no longer the new dog in my yard, but I am the biggest dog. So yeah, I love the position that I’m in. I call the shots, as I should.
” I like the place where I am sitting but, at the same time, being the alpha means that there are always others hunting you trying to take your spot. That’s why I keep my feet on the ground and stay alert. That’s one of the things that keeps me on point so I never get complacent.”
As he prepares for his second consecutive rematch, Adesanya is aware of the traps that could befall fighters who think they have won the race.
The last time they met in 2019, Adesanya was like a sniper picking and choosing his shots as he decimated the aggressive attack coming from Whittaker, who was swinging with bad intentions behind every punch thrown.
On paper, it was nearly a flawless victory from start to finish. Perhaps that is what sets Adesanya apart from many of his contemporaries. He wasn’t content and wants to be even more successful on Saturday.
“It’s a challenge for myself to do it more decisively,” Adesanya said. “Because the last time, I kind of got wild and crazy in there and I out crazied him. I could see his energy and he was trying to lunge at me. I dialed an audible. The game plan was not used by us.
“Now I’m ready to make him a reality. I want to execute the game plan in a fashion that’s clean. This five-nil effort is not enough. He can’t even do the same thing to me on the ground or on the feet. He accepts I am the stronger fighter .”
If he’s able to beat Whittaker a second time, it’s likely that Adesanya will be staring down another potential rematch if Brunson is able to get past Jared Cannonier at UFC 271.
If not him, there’s fresh blood in the division coming from Sean Strickland, who just picked up his sixth win in a row last week, or maybe even Alex Pereira, the Brazilian striker who actually knocked out Adesanya in a kickboxing match back in 2017.
Whether it’s old foes or new talent standing across the octagon from him, Adesanya has already done plenty to separate himself from everybody coming after him at 185 pounds.
He’s still not content, but he likes to keep trying to make sure that nobody is ever able to beat him.
“They throw that word around me too much — legend,” Adesanya said. “Like, ‘Oh, you’re a legend,’ and my response every time is, not yet, one day. “No man, you are a legend.” One day. It’s not like I feel there yet.
“I know what I’ve done is legendary. I’ve done some legendary things and had some legendary moments that will live forever in this game, in combat sports and sports in general, but I’m not done. I feel like I’m still in the stride of my prime. I will continue to work to be the artist .”
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When it comes to the legacy he wants to leave behind, Adesanya refuses to compare himself to anybody else, which is why he never gets caught up in the debate about who is the greatest of all-time.
He doesn’t mind when someone calls Anderson Silva the greatest middleweight ever, just as much as he congratulates himself for being mentioned that way.
When it’s all said and done, Adesanya is confident he’ll be proud of his entire resume, but he’s far from finished adding to his long list of accomplishments.
“Just being on the right path that I’m on right now [will make me legendary],” Adesanya said. Doing what you’re doing. I will remove the names. The division. Going back up and doing another side mission at 205 [pounds], accomplishing that side mission. These things will be legendary.
“But it’s not just about that. I guess the people that I inspire along the way — I kind of want people who watch me fight and know he fought everyone, he never ducked nobody. Let it be said, I never ducked anyone. I called all the toughest guys out. Just keep doing what I’m doing and I’ll get there.”
