Middleweight champion Israel Adesanya, who is set to clash with Sean Strickland at UFC 293, has expressed interest in potential future matchups with fighters such as Dricus Du Plessis and Khamzat Chimaev, while admitting he might be favoring Chimaev more as he’s not yet faced him and appreciates new blood in the competition.
Israel Adesanya, a prominent figure in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), has triumphed over many middleweight contenders. Now, he is on the lookout for new challenges. His freshest competition will be at UFC 293, where he is slated to spar with Sean Strickland in the main event. Simultaneously, another potential matchup is on the horizon with Dricus Du Plessis, who effectively removed ex-champion Robert Whittaker from the equation in July. Further adding to Adesanya’s plate is a prospective fresh face from the impending showdown between Paulo Costa and Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 294.
While Adesanya boasts a significant win over Costa from three years ago, the prospect of facing newcomer Chimaev appears enticing. Chimaev stands undefeated, and a victory over Costa may be all that’s needed to establish him as a top contender at 185 pounds, bolstering Adesanya’s interest in facing him. In an interview with the Stake.com, Adesanya remarked, “I don’t know who’s going to win but I think if I’m favoring, I might be favoring Khamzat a little bit more, because I like new blood”.
As formidable as Chimaev has proven to be, striking his path through welterweight particularly, Adesanya issues a fair warning. Chimaev’s transition to middleweight promises no easy victories, especially with a fervent competitor like Costa in his sights. Memories linger from Adesanya’s rivalry with Costa, yet Chimaev’s encounter with Costa, known for his notable victories and knockout prowess, will be no less challenging. Adesanya affirmed, “I just made Paulo look easy but trust me, he’s a hard fight. I’m rooting for Khamzat more in that fight.”
Adesanya, who as of Sept. 9 will be tied up in a fight with Strickland in Australia, is also 34-year-old Nigerian-born champion. He is known for his multi-tasking abilities, keeping an eye on the developments in the rest of the middleweight division in parallel. It seems like Adesanya might even be plotting to face Chimaev before 2023’s close. An amused Adesanya stated, “Ain’t that funny? I’m the one actually pushing for fights. I’m even trying to have one more this year. We’ll see.” Indeed, what’s next for this avid fighter remains to be seen.