Michael Bisping predicts UFC 263 main-event: Israel Adesanya vs Marvin Vettori

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3 years ago

Announcer Michael Bisping looks on during UFC Fight Night at VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena on May 16, 2020 in Jacksonville, Florida. (Photo by Douglas P. DeFelice/Getty Images)

Israel Adesanya takes on Marvin Vettori in the main-event of UFC 263

‘The Last Stylebender’ will be defending his middleweight title for the third time when he takes on Marvin Vettori next month, on the 12th of June.

Middleweight title winner Israel Adesanya of New Zealand celebrates after defeating Robert Whittaker of Australia during the middleweight title bout of the UFC 243 fight night in Melbourne on October 6, 2019. (Photo by ASANKA BRENDON RATNAYAKE / AFP) / — IMAGE RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE – STRICTLY NO COMMERCIAL USE — (Photo by ASANKA BRENDON RATNAYAKE/AFP via Getty Images)

The pair will be running back their famous encounter that happened three years ago at UFC on Fox 29: Poirier vs Gaethje. The match ended in a controversial split decision, with many claiming that Vettori was robbed.

Both the fighters have been unbeaten in the middleweight division since that night. However, Adesanya became the middleweight champion just a year later.

The Nigerian will also be wary of the Italian’s exceptional ground game, which was exemplified during his recent outing against Kevin Holland, last month.

Marvin Vettori of Italy poses on the scale during the UFC Fight Night weigh-in at UFC APEX on December 04, 2020 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)

Elsewhere, UFC Hall of Famer and commentator Michael Bisping shared his thoughts on the title bout. Speaking to the Schmo, ‘The Count’ claimed that both the fighters have gotten better since the last fight, especially Vettori.

“He [Adesanya] should go into this fight very confident. Of course, he has already beaten Marvin Vettori. I think both have them have got better. I think Vettori has gotten way better…But you’ve still got to side with the champ. I’m still leaning with the champ. He is the champ for a reason.”

Michael Bisping reveals what would provide Marvin Vettori with the impetus to beat Israel Adesanya

After beating Paulo Costa at UFC 253, Adesanya tried to test the murky waters of the light-heavyweight division. He faced LHW champion Jan Blachowicz in a bid to become a two-division champion.

Israel Adesanya lost to Jan Blachowicz at UFC 259 (Twitter)

However, things didn’t go as planned as Adesanya lost the match via. unanimous decision. Thereby, it became the first and only loss in his UFC career so far.

Bisping, therefore felt that, Adesanya coming off the loss would probably set the tone for Vettori.