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Ultimate Fighting Championship
Martial ArtsMixed Martial Arts

UFC: Chris Weidman loves Israel Adesanya fight, but thinks Robert Whittaker can win rematch

  • ‘The way he looked in his last fight, that’s a different Whittaker than we saw the first time,’ Weidman says
  • ‘Refurbished’ former UFC middleweight champ feels he has the tools to beat Adesanya as he looks to continue path back to title

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Chris Weidman celebrates after his victory over Omari Akhmedov in their middleweight bout during the UFC Fight Night event on August 8, 2020 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Photo: Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC
Nicolas Atkin

Chris Weidman believes Israel Adesanya will be facing “a different Robert Whittaker” if they do rematch for the UFC middleweight title, but the American also feels he has the tools to beat the champion.

No 1-ranked Whittaker (24-5) warned “The Last Stylebender” (20-1) that “I’ve got some tricks you haven’t seen” after a masterclass against Kelvin Gastelum last weekend in Las Vegas.

Former champ Weidman (15-5) fancies his own chances against Adesanya, as the 36-year-old looks to continue his momentum against Uriah Hall (17-9) at UFC 261 this Saturday night in Jacksonville, Florida.

“I do love that Adesanya fight, I love that challenge and I think have the tools to do it,” Weidman told SCMP MMA. “I don’t know if he still will be champion at that time though. I think Whittaker has the ability to beat him as well.

“The way he looked in his last fight, that’s a different Whittaker than we saw when they fought the first time.”

Nigerian-Kiwi Adesanya claimed the belt from New Zealand-born Australian Whittaker with a second-round KO at UFC 243 in October 2019 inside Marvel Stadium in Melbourne.

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