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Stephen Foote

UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya is bracing for a frosty reception at the T-Mobile Arena when he takes to the Octagon for his maiden title defence against Yoel Romero at UFC 248 next weekend.
When asked how he'd negotiate Romero's unique challenges in a press conference last weekend, Adesanya made a reference to the 9/11 terror attacks that killed thousands in New York City.
“He's human like anyone else and everyone likes to make this myth about, 'Oh, he's steel, like kicking steel', or you hit him and he's he doesn't fall,” said the 30-year-old. “I'll touch him enough times and eventually he'll crumble like the Twin Towers … too soon?”
The comments provoked an immediate backlash, which was spearheaded by challenger-in-waiting Paulo Costa, who referred to him as a “dirty Kiwi”.


Adesanya apologised soon after via Instagram, saying he'd never intended any offence and was “simply rambling”.
But don't mistake his expectation of boos in the T-Mobile Arena for concern.
UFC: Adesanya apologises for controversial 9/11 comment
“Let them boo, I don't care,” Adesanya told the Post. “Doesn't bother me.
“I said what I said but my brain was kind of running at speed at the time. I apologised and addressed the situation. I said what I said and I apologised.”
It's a mere triviality in Adesanya's eyes. There's only one cause for concern and that's Romero, who has the New Zealander's undivided attention, but not a huge amount of his respect.

The 43-year-old has earned a reputation for underhanded tactics, most infamously his trickery to earn extra recovery time between rounds after being rocked by Tim Kennedy back in 2014.
“I’ve seen this guy quit. ‘Stoolgate’. That tells me what kind of person he is,” Adesanya said. “You see him cheat, grabbing the inside of the gloves, grabbing the fence, and they call these 'veteran moves'.
“I've played against one of the best and most crafty veterans in Anderson Silva and all his fugazi and it didn't work on me. I'm too clued onto it … I've seen it before.”

Adesanya is confident he has the edge over Romero in all areas, particularly when it comes to their respective gas tanks.
“If he wants to do what Kelvin Gastelum did and rush me or wants to play safe and keep a distance, feel free,” he said.
“But I know for a fact that whatever he's doing, I've got way more in the tank than him. You can have a bet who gets tired first? I'll bet you my whole purse.”


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Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC)

UFC 248: Israel Adesanya ‘doesn’t care’ if he gets booed for 9/11 comment in Las Vegas

Israel Adesanya talks during a press conference for UFC 248. Photo: AFP

HOUSTON, TEXAS - FEBRUARY 07: Yoel Romero talks during a press conference for UFC 248 at Toyota Center on February 07, 2020 in Houston, Texas. Ronald Martinez/Getty Images/AFP == FOR NEWSPAPERS, INTERNET, TELCOS & TELEVISION USE ONLY ==

Nigeria's Israel Adesanya, left, and Brazil's Anderson Silva fight during their middlewesight bout at the UFC 234 event in Melbourne, Australia, Sunday, Feb. 10, 2019. (AP Photo/Andy Brownbill)

UFC: Alex Volkanovski happy to give Henry Cejudo ‘a bit of a hiding’ after call-out

Max Holloway says he is ‘a couple of weeks ahead’ in his return from a hand injury. Photo: USA TODAY Sports

Henry Cejudo, celebrates after defeating Marlon Moraes during their bantamweight title mixed martial arts bout at UFC 238, early Sunday, June 9, 2019, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Kamil Krzaczynski)

Alexander Volkanovski hits Max Holloway in a mixed martial arts featherweight championship bout at UFC 245, Saturday, Dec. 14, 2019, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher)

UFC: Israel Adesanya says sorry for 9/11 comment – ‘you’re bound to miss the mark with some bars’

Israel Adesanya talks during a press conference for UFC 248 in Houston, Texas, in February. Photo: AFP

UFC: Paulo Costa slams ‘dirty Kiwi’ and ‘disgusting’ Israel Adesanya after Yoel Romero 9/11 comments

UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya talks at a UFC 248 press conference alongside opponent Yoel Romero earlier this month. Photo: AFP

UFC 248: Israel Adesanya slams ‘disrespectful’ Yoel Romero for no-showing Auckland press conference

Israel Adesanya talks during a press conference for UFC 248 in Houston. Photos: AFP

CHICAGO, IL - JUNE 09: Yoel Romero of Cuba (R) attempts to take down Robert Whittaker of New Zealand (L) in the third round in their middleweight title fight during the UFC 225: Whittaker v Romero 2 event at the United Center on June 9, 2018 in Chicago, Illinois. Whittaker won in a split decision. Dylan Buell/Getty Images/AFP == FOR NEWSPAPERS, INTERNET, TELCOS & TELEVISION USE ONLY ==

ANAHEIM, CALIFORNIA - AUGUST 17: Paulo Costa throws a punch at Yoel Romero in the third round during their Middleweight Bout at UFC 241 at Honda Center on August 17, 2019 in Anaheim, California. Joe Scarnici/Getty Images/AFP == FOR NEWSPAPERS, INTERNET, TELCOS & TELEVISION USE ONLY ==

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Martial Arts

Mixed Martial Arts


‘I said what I said and I apologised,’ says Adesanya after Twin Towers comment draws criticism
‘Let them boo, doesn’t bother me,’ adds UFC middleweight champion



Middleweight champion Israel Adesanya says ‘let them boo’ at UFC 248 – ‘it doesn’t bother me’ – after Twin Towers comment draws criticism.


Israel Adesanya

Martial arts

UFC 248: Israel Adesanya ‘doesn’t care’ if he gets booed for 9/11 comment in Las Vegas

.css-1mniedq{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;} ‘I said what I said and I apologised,’ says Adesanya after Twin Towers comment draws criticism ‘Let them boo, doesn’t bother me,’ adds UFC middleweight champion

‘I said what I said and I apologised,’ says Adesanya after Twin Towers comment draws criticism

‘Let them boo, doesn’t bother me,’ adds UFC middleweight champion