LAS VEGAS – UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya and top contender Jared Cannonier officially crossed path for the first time on fight week at Thursday’s UFC 276 pre-fight press conference.
Adesanya (22-1 MMA, 11-1 UFC), who will put his belt on the line for the fifth time in Saturday’s International Fight Week headliner at T-Mobile Arena, engaged in his initial staredown with Cannonier (15-5 MMA, 8-5 UFC) in front of fans and media.
The pair were unsurprisingly intense as they battled to break a handshake before UFC matchmaker Sean Shelby stopped things from escalating.
Check out the video of the Adesanya vs. Cannonier faceoff above.
UFC 276’s main card airs on pay-per-view following prelims on ABC/ESPN and ESPN+. MMA Junkie will have complete on-site coverage for the event all week.
