Robert Whittaker has shared the octagon with former UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya twice, and current champ Dricus du Plessis once, so his experience has led him to a hypothesis in regards to Adesanya’s next fight.
Adesanya competes in his first non-title fight in five years when he faces surging contender Nassourdine Imavov in the main event of UFC Saudi Arabia on Feb. 1. In his most recent appearance, Adesanya was stopped by du Plessis in Round 4 of the main event at UFC 305 in August.
In Whittaker’s eyes, it was du Plessis’ awkward style — but mostly, his brute force that was the difference maker, and wonders if Imavov can do the same.
“Is Imavov as tanky as Dricus?,” Whittaker asked on his podcast MMArcade. “I think Dricus kind of... I think Dricus made like a really good blueprint on how to beat Adesanya: Got to make him uncomfortable, come at him, got to go at him, make him stress. Don’t give him space to play. ...
“I think Imavov’s got the skill set to do that, but I’d still lean Izzy being the favorite. He can fight that counter-style so well, and if you don’t fall into his baits, into his traps, he’ll pick you apart.”
Adesanya has dropped two straight and three of four heading into his first appearance of the new year. Whittaker was asked by his co-host if the matchup between “The Last Stylebender” and Imavov could be one of the division’s “changing of the guard” matchups.
Whittaker stopped short of saying it would be for a couple of reasons, mostly because he doesn’t see his multiple-time opponent falling short for the third straight time.
“I don’t know, because Izzy looked so good against Dricus until he didn’t,” Whittaker explained. “I don’t know, I think that Izzy beats Imavov.”
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