Israel Adesanya underscored his supremacy at 185-pounds once again late on Saturday night when he defeated Robert Whittaker for a second time in the UFC 271 main event, this time by judges’ decision.
The Kiwi’s second win against a fighter heralded by most as being his biggest challenge leaves Adesanya in a curios position, having dispatched practically all of the top contenders in his division — but Adesanya admits that there is one piece of “fresh meat” at 185-pounds who has caught his eye, another victor from the same card in Jared Cannonier.
Cannonier earned a second round knockout of fellow veteran Derek Brunson at the event in Houston, Texas to make it five wins from his last six — which includes finishes of Anderson Silva and Jack Hermansson.
And speaking to the media in Houston, including The Mac Life, Adesanya admitted that he has taken notice.
“The division is filled with killers, but I’m looking forward to fresh meat,” he said as transcribed by MMA Junkie. “(I didn’t see his fight in) close detail. I just saw bits and pieces. I think he even got rocked. I saw he got taken down. Then, he elbowed Brunson. I didn’t really take stock.
“I’ll go back and watch the fights later and see what it is. He made a statement. I even told him after the weigh-in, not the ceremonial one, I said, ‘Please, take this guy out so I can get some fresh meat. He said, ‘Bro, I’m trying to work.’ I said, ‘Me, too.’ So I’m a man of my word.”
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