Israel Adesanya and Darren Till have an odd friendship considering their consistent interest in fighting each other.

The pair have long supported each other in the media, with Till even sharing his.. excitement about Adesanya’s upcoming UFC 243 contest with middleweight champion Robert Whittaker on social media. Now, Till is making the long awaited move to 185-pounds, perhaps bringing a clash between he and Adesanya closer to fruition.

First, however, he’s to meet Kelvin Gastelum, whom Adesanya just went five brutal rounds with earlier this year. Because of that, Adesanya might be one of the most able people to help Till get an idea of what he’s in for on November 2 at UFC 244.

“I fought Kelvin, and that’s the thing; I know how hard I tried to take him out,” Adesanya said. “So I know how hard he is to put away. But I might have softened him up a little bit for Darren, and Darren’s a guy who’s southpaw… oh, they’re both southpaws that’s right.

“I love his left kick, his left straight, he curves the left as well. I think Darren’s distance control will have to be a dictating factor in that fight, and Kelvin will probably use the same tactic to close the distance on me, on him. So Darren will have to be the one to dictate the pace to be the one to win that fight, and Kelvin will have to be Kelvin.”