Israel Adesanya has been called out by previous UFC conqueror Jan Blachowicz for a rematch at 185lb.
The Nigeria star went into UFC 287 last weekend looking for revenge against Alex Pereira and he found it in style with a highlight-reel KO in the second round of his Brazilian rival. Adesanya restored momentum in his UFC career and most importantly regained his middleweight crown as he returned to the top of the division.
The only other fighter to have beaten Adesanya is light-heavyweight star Blachowicz who successfully defended his 205lb title with a win over 'The last Stylebender' in 2021. And the Polish star has admitted he would be open to renewing their battle providing he can cut weight and make a play for Adesanya's title.
“People need to believe a little bit more in me,” Blachowicz said in an interview on The Craic with Peter Carroll. “And if UFC would like to make this fight, I will do it, no problem. I know how to do it. That will be great motivation for me, a big motivation, you know, to beat him another one, another time. So yeah, why not? I’m ready to do that.
“I find a way how to do it. And then, of course, how to do it and be in very good shape in the fight. If I wasn’t, I will not say that. But of course, I need a little bit more time. They have to give me like three, four months. Yes, 205lb is easy for me. Three weeks like this, you know, but 84 (kgs), yeah, three months. For sure.”
Despite being called out quickly following his brutal win, Adesanya will likely now take a break from octagon action having had a quick turnaround for redemption against Pereira. It was a tough ask for the returning champion who will likely now face a whole host of challenges including from current contender Paulo Costa and another weight-switching star in Khamzat Chimaev.
Who would you like to see Israel Adesanya fight next in the UFC? Let us know in the comments section below
It remains unclear exactly who will be first in line for the pound-for-pound star, but his trainer Eugene Bareman has suggested it will be someone who he hasn't touched gloves with previously. “Someone new, someone different," Bareman told The MMA Hour. "I don’t want to fight these guys we’ve already fought. It’s nothing.
"We are in the sport to prove that we are the best, and when you beat someone 2 or three times, you have proven that. I don’t know, it’s a funny division when you have got such a dominant champion. That’s where these guys who haven’t fought Israel, there is an opportunity there if they jump on it. We will fight in eight weeks."
