Former UFC middleweight champ Robert Whittaker has been slowly building back up to a rematch with Israel Adesanya for quite some time. It was Adesanya who, in October 2019, dethroned Whittaker and took the middleweight title for himself. This February, the Australian will have his chance at redemption, and knows that he’ll need to change the game plan.
In a recent interview with MMAJunkie, Robert Whittaker revealed his elaborate plan, which consists primarily of putting Adesanya on the ground.
Robert Whittaker Has a New Gameplan for Israel Adesanya
“I would love to be able to get him on his back and to work on the ground. It’s no secret that the greatest advantage anyone would have with ‘Izzy’ is on his back where he can’t use his long arms and long legs to hit you. It’s no secret.
Am I going to focus on just that? That’s anybody’s guess because no, I can strike with the best of them, as well, so if an opportunity presents itself… I guess my whole headspace is just utilize the tools and the opportunities that I’m given in this fight, and I think that sums it up pretty well.
If I see takedowns, I’ll take them. If I see openings to strike, I’ll take them. Keeping that defense nice and tight. More or less just a little less of what happened in the first fight.”
“What happened in the first fight” was Adesanya knocking Whittaker out before a stunned home crowd in Melbourne, Australia. In 2019, Israel Adesanya had never lost an MMA fight. However, he recently attempted to move up to light heavyweight, losing via decision to a ground-based dominant performance from Jan Blachowicz. This “blueprint” might just be Robert Whittaker’s key to success.
“I think Jan set a blueprint on how to beat him. But again, I don’t have the same skillsets and tools Jan does. I don’t have that Polish power, nor that Polish head.
You know, like he’s a tough guy, so got to utilize what I have. Definitely we saw that ‘Izzy’ is much less dangerous off his back. Still dangerous, but less dangerous.
If I was a strategist, I would be writing down all the points of which Jan utilized to take that win and then putting it in my own.”
UFC 271 will take place on February 12. Will Robert Whittaker hand Israel Adesanya his first ever loss at middleweight, or will the champion defend his title? Let us know in the comments.
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