Israel Adesanya is one of the hottest fighters in MMA right now. As the current Middleweight champion preps for a move to Light Heavyweight, he is keeping an eye on the Heavyweight title picture. However, Izzy isn’t looking to move up to challenge for the belt, but root for his friend Francis Ngannou.

Ngannou is earmarked to be the next contender to Stipe Miocic‘s heavyweight title. The title picture had become stagnant, as Stipe had a trilogy of title fights against Daniel Cormier. Now that Stipe has won that rivalry, it is time to revisit another old foe. Stipe beat Ngannou in their first title matchup.

Adesanya believes that Ngannou will beat Miocic in their eventual rematch.

“I feel like Ngannou in that first fight was in love with his power. He knew if he touched people they would go to sleep. He knew that. He has learned from that first fight, and I feel he has grown from it. I have talked to him first-hand and I know what he is capable of. He’s a guy that you don’t want to get touched by. Now he knows. He is a smart fighter and I can’t wait. I am rooting for the brother.”

Is Israel Adesanya making the right choice?

The big money would be on Stipe retaining his title. His last two victories over Cormier established him as the best in the division, with an argument for one of the best in history. He also wrote the book on how to beat Ngannou. Israel Adesanya may choose Ngannou due to their shared heritage and pride, but that doesn’t mean Ngannou is still the same fighter.

While Ngannou hasn’t had to flesh out his arsenal, he definitely remembers the Stipe fight. He has blitzed through the rest of the division, and Miocic seems like the only man that could possibly beat him. Even though Stipe is the more polished fighter, one strike from Ngannou is all it takes to end a fight. It is going to be interesting to see if Ngannou can land that one strike this time around.