Whittaker On Adesanya's Real Opponent At UFC Riyadh

Robert Whittaker thinks Israel Adesanya faces a tougher challenge from within than across the cage when he meets Shara Magomedov at UFC Saudi Arabia next month.

The former middleweight champion, now on a four-fight skid, draws Magomedov in the Dec. 5 main event in Riyadh. Whittaker — who lost twice to Adesanya for the title between 2019 and 2022 before the pair became friends and occasional training partners — told the MMArcade podcast he worries about his old rival's recent form. Per MMA Fighting, Whittaker said the opening round against Nassourdine Imavov showed flashes of the fighter who once dominated the division, but the performance didn't last.

Why Whittaker Favors Adesanya If Focused

Whittaker remains confident the technical matchup favors Adesanya on paper. Magomedov won't threaten with takedowns, leaving the contest as a pure striking battle where the New Zealander's skill set still shines. "I think the real fight here is Israel vs. himself," Whittaker said, according to the report. He added that if the focused version of Adesanya emerges instead of the one who has dropped four straight, Magomedov is in serious trouble.

"I want to see Izzy come in the way Izzy of old [did]; his head switched on, focused, laser-focused, and I think he beats the brakes off Shara, to be honest," Whittaker said. "Yeah, I have Israel all day."

UFC Saudi Arabia takes place at the ANB Arena in Riyadh on Dec. 5.

Photo by maks_d on Unsplash

Original reporting:

• mmafighting.com — Robert Whittaker says Israel Adesanya’s biggest opponent isn’t Shara Bullet, but himself | MMA Fighting