UFC

“I want to make the Middleweight division great” – Israel Adesanya wants to emulate several UFC greats like GSP as Middleweight Champion

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UFC Middleweight champion Israel Adesanya dreams of emulating some of the greats in the business

Unbeaten UFC Middleweight champion Israel Adesanya faces a tough test at UFC 248 against Yoel Romero.

The 30-year-old Adesanya is 18-0 in his MMA career, and has been impressive since stepping into the UFC.

Middleweight title winner Israel Adesanya of New Zealand celebrates after defeating Robert Whittaker. (Photo by ASANKA BRENDON RATNAYAKE / AFP) / — IMAGE RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE – STRICTLY NO COMMERCIAL USE — (Photo by ASANKA BRENDON RATNAYAKE/AFP via Getty Images)

Romero, who is 40, is one of the most experienced fighters in the world. However, the veteran has lost his last two bouts.

Adesanya was speaking to the media after an open training session and wasn’t best pleased at facing Romero due to his opponent’s losses.

The Nigerian star claimed he wanted to take his division to new heights and was a fighting champion:

“I want to be active. I want to be fighting.

“Well, I said I really want to fight four times in there. You’ve seen me do it before you see me do five times with a day extra. I still make it a year but I want to be active champion.”

He also named some of the greats he wanted to copy as champion in the Middleweight division:

“I want to do right by the division like GSP [Georges St-Pierre] did at Welterweight, like Demetrious [Johnson] did at Flyweight, like Anderson [Silva] did at Middleweight.

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“I want to make the Middleweight division great.”

Romero doesn’t deserve the fight

It should be a great co-main event at UFC 248 but Adesanya questioned why Romero was getting a chance at the bout.

Israel Adesanya at the ISPS Handa Halberg Awards on February 13, 2020 in Auckland, New Zealand. (Photo by Dave Rowland/Getty Images)

He has lost his previous two fights and the champion highlighted that Romero gets tired in every fight.

Adesanya also spoke about his time in Nigeria and how he contracted malaria eight times when he was a child.

Israel Adesanya talks during a press conference for UFC 248  (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

He added that he had better immunity now thanks to his time while growing up, and was confident of remaining as the champion after UFC 248.

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Saiyed Adeem Karim

Ditching a corporate job to follow a dream isn't easy, but when football comes calling, who can say no? Been following the beautiful game since 1998. Liverpool addict, F1 fanatic!