Welcome to The Weekly Takedown, Sports Illustrated’s in-depth look at MMA. Every Thursday, this column will offer insight and information on the most noteworthy stories in the fight world.
There is real opportunity atop the middleweight division.
Reigning middleweight champion Israel Adesanya is a force to be reckoned with, but there is an opening to climb into the top five of the rankings and earn a title shot. Adesanya meets top-ranked Robert Whittaker next week at UFC 271, the same card where No. 3 Jared Cannonier fights No. 4 Derek Brunson. And with Marvin Vettori (No. 2) and Paulo Costa (No. 5) both coming off recent losses against Adesanya, that opens the possibility for either Sean Strickland or Jack Hermansson to jump up into the top five.
