Israel Adesanya clearly and understandably isn’t short on confidence following his impressive win at UFC 253. But, chances are not everyone’s in agreement with one of his recent proclamations.
Yes, following his latest victory, the UFC’s middleweight champ has proclaimed he’s also the sport’s top light heavyweight.
Adesanya says he’s the best 205’er in the world
The Nigerian born, New Zealand fighter is coming off arguably his greatest win to date, as Adesanya took out the massive, Paulo Costa on Saturday night.
Since Adesany’s victory, he’s relayed he wants to fight Jared Cannonier next, if the latter beats Robert Whittaker on October 24th. But, since Adesanya has now defeated the likes of Costa, Whittaker, Yoel Romero, Anderson and Derek Brunson, there’s lots of talk about what could come after that.
Well, as you likely know, for months Adesanya has been trading verbal shots with Jon Jones. Adesanya has made it clear he wants to fight Jones, and he’s repeated that wish, even though “Bones” vacated the light heavyweight title.
While talking about Jones this week on ESPN, and his ongoing feud with the star, Adesanya said this (quotes via MMA Mania).
“…This guy, he needs me,” Adesanya said. “I’ve said this before, he’s jealous he saw this young black guy, this freshman who has come up and done all the things he wish he could have done.
And when I said that earlier on, people were like ‘Psh, he’s jealous of you?’ You guys don’t understand. It’s easy, I’ve been there before so I can see it in other people.
You see it in other people when you’ve been there before. He’s jealous of me because I’m getting all the shine he wishes he had, I’m getting all the attention he wishes he had. It’s just that. It’s the same thing.”
Then, the vaunted striker followed up with this.
“I told you, every f***ing fight and what happens? I get better and better every f***ing fight.
They were trying to get me early so they can have me on their record books so when I do great things in the sport, they can say: “Oh we already beat him. So I’m like: ‘No, give me time, let me work. I’m still working.’
And I’m getting better so now you can just say I’m the best light-heavyweight in the world.”
And while talking about how he matches up against Jan Blachowicz, who won the LHW title by stopping Dominick Reyes on Saturday, Adesanya said the following.
“We like that fight with Jan [Blachowicz],” Adesanya admitted. “But also Cannonier, I’m also waiting for that.
Everything is in the air, it just happened, so many questions and I’m just like ‘Let me chill.’
But yeah, I like 205. I like 205. I’m the best 205er in the world, what can I say.”
Bold statement?
So, given that Adesanya hasn’t competed at light heavyweight in the Octagon, obviously, that statement is going to be scrutinized. The champ isn’t even big for the 185-pound division.
But, considering Adesanya’s awe-inspiring abilities, it would be silly to just dismiss the idea that he could win the light heavyweight title.