Israel Adesanya isn't impressed by Robert Whittaker's recent wins

KazDibiase

"My style is kneeing people in the face."
Joined
Nov 8, 2015
Messages
12,012
Reaction score
51,431
133_Israel_Adesanya.0.jpg
Esther Lin, MMA Fighting
This Saturday, Israel Adesanya will defend his middleweight title against the man he took the belt from, Robert Whittaker, in the main event of UFC 271. In their first fight, Adesanya outclassed Whittaker, scoring a second-round knockout in one of the most dominant performances of his career. But despite the sensational performance, Adesanya says that he actually did not fight according to plan in that bout.

“I was surprised with the way I played the game,” Adesanya said on his own YouTube channel. “I called an audible without realizing it, because we had a game plan but then I matched his energy. I was just like, ‘Right, you want to stand 10 toes down, f*ck it. I can stand 10 toes down and I can get buck wild.’ So I matched his energy and I just called an audible. I fought differently.

“I humbled him to the sense that he can’t say the sh*t he was saying the first time around, because he was talking all that sh*t saying this and that. ‘I think Adesanya isn’t as good as he thinks he is.’ I remember that. I’m the elephant in the f*cking room. I never forget. ‘Oh, Israel’s not as good as he thinks he is.’ I’ll show you how great I think I am.”

Adesanya was not alone in fighting differently that night. Since the loss, Whittaker has admitted that the pre-fight build up between the two got into his head, saying that he fought with anger and hate and that it ultimately cost him. Heading into the rematch, Whittaker says that he’s put aside his ego and is approaching this fight much more clear-headed, but Adesanya doesn’t seem to believe him.

“I saw a little snippet of what he was saying. It’s like he finds it hard to swallow,” Adesanya said. “It’s a hard pill for him to swallow. He’s admitting it, he’s saying the right things, but he’s not believing it. He’s ego won’t let him and that’s his downfall. His ego. People tried to say that about me leading to the first fight. ‘Oh, he’s too egotistical. He’s not humble like Whittaker.’ I’m like, bro, stop. I am extraordinarily humble. I know my limits as a human being and my capabilities. So I know I’m the sh*t but at the same time, I know I ain’t sh*t. He needs to check himself. He’s got this new found mental clarity and it would help him positively if it was true. I just don’t buy into it.”

Though Adesanya may not buy into the rejuvenated ‘Bobby Knuckles’, fans certainly are. Since his defeat to the champion, Whittaker has rattled off three impressive wins in a row, all over ranked opposition. That run, plus Whittaker’s admission of fault the first time around, have fans buzzing about what the rematch will look like this weekend. But Adesanya thinks Whittaker is getting too much credit for his wins.

“Yes. Way too much,” Adesanya said. “To the point where I’m like, did he invent a new move or something? Did he reinvent the jab or I don’t know what. He improved, yes, but not to the point where people have blown it up to be. The proportion. I think maybe people just have low standards, that’s all. I just have high standards....

“He played the game very well against all three opponents, I feel. At the same time, you put those three guys together, they don’t amount to me. The way they play the game, it’s not the same. So like I said, (Georges St-Pierre impression) ‘I was not impressed by your performance.’”

https://www.mmafighting.com/2022/2/...nt-wins-did-he-invent-a-new-move-or-something
 
I think Izzy's just upset that Rob won his way back to a title shot. He was barracking hard for Till and Cannonier in those fights. His performances in his last 2 were great but a lot of the praise he's got is for actually getting back in there and earning a rematch rather than sitting round demanding it which has become all too common
 
I think Izzy's just upset that Rob won his way back to a title shot. He was barracking hard for Till and Cannonier in those fights. His performances in his last 2 were great but a lot of the praise he's got is for actually getting back in there and earning a rematch rather than sitting round demanding it which has become all too common
Plus he was trying to talk about Till jumping the line if he beat Brunson.
 
Iggy has something against Rob, Period.


Or he’s just showing his bully tendencies.

He’s been pretty classless.
Lol. I really don't think Israel is a jerk or classless personally. But in sports competition some people perform better when they create some type of animosity for motivation against their opponent. Mental bullying is a part of the game.

Even if it seems ridiculous and petty to the outsiders looking in, Israel has to believe it.

Compare his performances where there is heat with those where he's very respectful to his opponent or the opponent is very respectful to him prefight.
 
Plus he was trying to talk about Till jumping the line if he beat Brunson.
Yeah, that one was petty ridiculous considering Whittaker had just beaten Till. I can sort of understand Israel's frustration though. He thought he was going on to bigger and better things like LHW title and Jon Jones, instead not only is he stuck at MW guys he's beaten have taken out the contenders so all he's left with is rematches.
 
Whittakers last 3 fights..

he totally dominated Till, one sided fight.

The Gastelum fight was closer and he did get hurt a few times in that but he also hit Gastelum loads.. but Gastelum has the fat fighter chin, thats why he has never been knocked out or finished with strikes, amazing chin, Ngannou would struggle to KO him I reckon.

The Cannonier fight was dominate, too accurate and well rounded for him. Looked very good in my opinion.

Adesanya last 3 fights.. the Costa fight was total domination, I don't think Costa landed a shot on him. The Jan fight was a loss and very hard fight but it was at LHW so thats a factor but anyhow he lost, and the Vettori fight I honestly thought was crap, I didn't really enjoy the fight to be honest, point sparring
 
Like I said in the EXACT same thread that already addressed this situation.

Apparently Izzy doesn’t understand that statements like this undermine Izzy’s earning potential. Just shit on your opponent in a rematch when the original fight was not close.

Yeah that is really going to induce casual fans to actually PAY to watch the rematch?? Why bother if it’s such a squash match? And how does it improve your legacy when you make fun of the whole thing?

The man has the IQ of a guppy. And if you don’t understand that. What does that say about you?

He should be saying the exact opposite. Like GSP always did. But then nobody has ever questioned GSP’s intelligence. Izzy is more about his own ego. I favour Izzy, but would love to see Whittaker win.
 
Lol. I really don't think Israel is a jerk or classless personally. But in sports competition some people perform better when they create some type of animosity for motivation against their opponent. Mental bullying is a part of the game.

Even if it seems ridiculous and petty to the outsiders looking in, Israel has to believe it.

Compare his performances where there is heat with those where he's very respectful to his opponent or the opponent is very respectful to him prefight.
Makes sense. I've seen it alot in this game and it's weird to watch on the outside, but i get it.

Like the buildup to Woodley/Thompson. It was so awkward because Woodley was trying so hard to make it seem like Thompson was a bad guy or something lol. Trying to create beef and make Thompson act like a human that can get angry. Woodley needed that edge.
 
Good for him. Many of us weren't impressed with his fights against Yoel, Jan, or vetorri.
 
Izzy Azaleah:
"He’s not humble like Whittaker.’ I’m like, bro, stop. I am extraordinarily humble. "

--

Lol what? You don't talk like that if you are extraordinary humble.

"Bro stop, i am extraordinary humble!"

What do you talk like then?
 
Back
Top