UFC 271: Israel Adesanya beats bitter rival Robert Whittaker to successfully defend his middleweight belt

Israel Adesanya made it four successful title defences with a unanimous decision victory over foe Robert Whittaker at UFC 271 on Saturday night.

The pair faced off three years after their first clash in 2019 – where Adesanya made quick work of Whittaker, finishing him in the second round.

However, on Saturday the rivals needed the full 25 minutes to decide the outcome.

Adesanya had a strong first round using his elite striking to drop Whittaker showing shades of their first fight.

The Reaper was able to regain his composure and give the champion a closer match-up throughout the rest of the fight.

With Whittaker being more patient and technical, Adesanya was still able to emerge victorious beating his foe 48-47, 48-47, 49-46.

The Nigerian now sits at 11-straight wins at middleweight – just two behind all-time leader Anderson Silva with 13.

Contrasting emotions between Israel Adesanya and Robert Whittaker

With the two best middleweights’ second clash being much closer than their first, Whittaker protested he’d done enough to regain his championship.

‘I thought I beat him. Honestly, a third fight between me and Izzy is inevitable. It’s inevitable because I’m going to stomp anybody that comes in front of me again.’

After hearing the Reaper’s protest to why he won the fight, Adesanya was quick to dismiss his complaints.

‘I don’t know what he and Vettori were sipping on, maybe it was Costa’s wine,’ he said.

‘He did not win that fight, and he knows it. You don’t do enough to win the title, you take the belt. This is not how this works.”

Following his latest victory, Adesanya stated his desire to return to the octagon in June. He can look forward to facing a new fresh opponent in Jared Cannonier, as UFC president Dana White confirmed in the post-fight press conference, a fight that both fans and fighters are excited to see.

By Byron Goodchild