UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya has branded his long-time Marvin Vettori as the division's "biggest pretender".
Adesanya has only been in the promotion since 2018, but has already run through the gauntlet at 185lb, including beating Vettori twice. He has just one loss on his MMA record, when he moved up 20lb to fight Jan Blachowicz last year for the light-heavyweight title in Abu Dhabi, but has looked unbeatable in his own division.
And despite going the distance twice with Vettori, the first of which was a razor-close split decision, he believes the Italian is not all fans and experts crack him up to be. Speaking with Kayo Sports' Gloves Off show, Adesanya noted that he feels Vettori is shrouded in "fugazi".
"I want to say Marvin Vettori," he responded when asked who he feels the biggest pretender is. "He is a tough guy, a tough fighter, but, it's a lot of fugazi the guy brings in. I'd say he is the biggest pretender I have faced in the UFC. But there is a few more. Not just fighters that I can call out."
Vettori, as well as former champion Robert Whittaker, have opted to stay at middleweight despite twice losing to Adesanya and having particularly difficult paths back to gold. The Italian is ranked at No.3, while Whittaker is the No.1 contender as they prepare to square off in Paris this September.
And Adesanya believes that it would take something spectacular from either man to get a trilogy fight, given that all but one of their four meetings was in any way close. He comfortably beat Vettori in their rematch by unanimous decision, and has both knocked out and won a handy decision against Whittaker.
Speaking with Sherdog, the middleweight champion suggested that they change division, as he is uninterested in trilogies where he is already 2-0 up. "Yeah, I read those books twice already," Adesanya explained.
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"I don't like reading the same book over and over again, it's kind of boring. So they can just move up to light heavyweight or drop down to [welterweight] and see what's going on. But to fight me again, they would have to do something really spectacular. I don't really want to read those books again."
Adesanya is currently focused on the No.2-ranked Jared Cannonier, whom he faces on Saturday night in his fifth title defence at UFC 276. The pair will headline International Fight Week at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, with the Nigerian a heavy favourite to once again reclaim his belt.
Also featured on the card is a fascinating clash between No.4 contender Sean Strickland and kickboxer Alex Pereira. The Brazilian is just 5-1 in professional MMA, but could see himself soar up the rankings with a win over Strickland after making a name for himself by viciously knocking out Adesanya when they met in the ring.
