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Tom Taylor

Israel Adesanya is still the UFC middleweight champion, but Robert Whittaker believes that title should be his.
Adesanya, 32, and Whittaker, 31, met in the main event of UFC 271 on Saturday night in Houston, Texas. It was the pair’s second meeting after Adesanya knocked the Australian out to win the title in 2019.
This time around, Adesanya defended the title with a unanimous decision victory.
“[Beating me is] easier said than done, even if you’ve already been in there with me before,” the Nigerian-born New Zealander told the media after his second victory over Whittaker.

#UFC271 Official Scorecard: Israel Adesanya (@StyleBender) vs Robert Whittaker

All Tonight's Scorecards: https://t.co/soKCeHne5t pic.twitter.com/DDAy2T2C1P
— UFC News (@UFCNews) February 13, 2022

“People, I feel like they have goldfish memories, then when they’re in there with me they’re like ‘Oh [expletive], it’s not as easy as we thought’. And they have to revert back to what they know.
“I did well. It was a good chess match.”
Adesanya (22-1) told reporters in Houston that he rated his performance seven out of 10. Whittaker (23-5), however, offered a very different assessment of the action.

The Australian, who ruled over the middleweight division in 2017 and 2018, believes he did enough over the course of his five-round duel with Adesanya to earn the judges’ nod.
“Breaking it down, I thought I lost the first round, and I put myself back together and I think I beat him to every punch,” he said. “I got takedowns.
“I thought I beat him. I thought I did enough. I got inside his reach. He didn’t land anything that really hurt me but that one shot in the first.”
It did not take long for Whittaker’s protests to reach Adesanya, and the champion did not receive them well.

“He did not win that fight and he knows it,” Adesanya said. “You don’t do enough to win the title. You take the belt.
Despite coming up short against Adesanya for a second time, Whittaker does not seem discouraged. In fact, he believes it’s a matter of time before he meets the champion again.
“A third fight between me and Izzy is inevitable because I’m going to stomp anyone that comes in front of me,” he said. “He knows it too, that’s why he said I’ll be seeing you again in the future [in the cage]. And I don’t see him losing the belt any time soon. He’s good, but I am the person to beat him.”
David Branch signed to one-fight deal with ONE Championship
Adesanya isn’t so sure about that, and emphasised that he’s prioritising fresh challenges.
“I said maybe,” he said. “I said you rack up some good wins and I’m sure I’ll see you down the line. I say that to kind of pat them on the butt like ‘good job kid’. But we’ll see. The division’s filled with killers, but I’m looking forward to fresh meat.”
Whittaker was not the only person to question the judges’ scores for his fight with Adesanya. UFC lightweight stars Justin Gaethje and Michael Chandler also took issue with the verdict, and shared their thoughts on Twitter.

How did you score the fight? 🤔 #UFC271

(via @MikeChandlerMMA, @Justin_Gaethje) pic.twitter.com/8NkA33AcEB
— ESPN MMA (@espnmma) February 13, 2022

UFC President Dana White, meanwhile, was impressed by Whittaker, but scored the bout in favour of Adesanya.
“I thought [Whittaker] was going to go for a lot more takedowns and really make Izzy work his wrestling, but he was aggressive – obviously way more aggressive this time – and he was able to take the shots Izzy did hit him with,” the UFC boss said.
“I think he looked physically, mentally and emotionally stronger than he did in the first one. I think I had it 3-2 [for Adesanya].”


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Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC)

UFC 271: Israel Adesanya defends his decision victory over Robert Whittaker – ‘he did not win that fight and he knows it’

Israel Adesanya of Nigeria enters the octagon for his middleweight championship fight against Robert Whittaker at UFC 271. Photo: Carmen Mandato/Getty Images/AFP


Robert Whittaker of Australia (right) punches Israel Adesanya in their middleweight championship fight at UFC 271 in Houston, Texas. Photo: Carmen Mandato/Getty Images/AFP 

Israel Adesanya of Nigeria (right) kicks Robert Whittaker. Photo: Carmen Mandato/Getty Images/AFP

UFC legend Quinton ‘Rampage’ Jackson ‘gunning for Kubrat Pulev’ after planned May fight with Shannon Briggs

Quinton “Rampage” Jackson squares off with Shannon Briggs at a Triller event. Photo: Triller Fight Club

Quinton ‘Rampage’ Jackson at a Triller event in Houston. Photo: Triller Fight Club

UFC 270: Tyson Fury invites Francis Ngannou to ‘make some real money’ as low PPV purses cause controversy

Francis Ngannou and Tyson Fury shown in a mocked up promotional fight poster. Photo: Twitter/@francis_ngannou

Francis Ngannou holds his UFC heavyweight title in the press room after defeating Ciryl Gane. Photo: Frederic J Brown/AFP

Sport

Martial Arts

Mixed Martial Arts


Whittaker believes he deserved judges’ decision in Saturday’s UFC middleweight title fight
‘You don’t do enough to win the title. You take the belt,’ Adesanya says



‘He did not win that fight and he knows it,’ UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya says, after protest from Robert Whittaker.


Israel Adesanya

UFC 271: Israel Adesanya defends his decision victory over Robert Whittaker – ‘he did not win that fight and he knows it’

Whittaker believes he deserved judges’ decision in Saturday’s UFC middleweight title fight ‘You don’t do enough to win the title. You take the belt,’ Adesanya says

Whittaker believes he deserved judges’ decision in Saturday’s UFC middleweight title fight

‘You don’t do enough to win the title. You take the belt,’ Adesanya says