Israel Adesanya will defend his UFC MW championship against Robert ‘The Reaper’ Whittaker at UFC 271 on February 12 at the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas. Though this fight will not take place in Australia or New Zealand as many hoped for, the winner will solidify himself as the best MW from Oceania.

The rematch has some distinct elements from the first fight. The former champion has admitted that he lost to a better fighter in the first fight. Likewise, he has worked his way back to challenge the New Zealander. However, the champion has looked better than ever at MW.

The best two middleweight fighters do not seem to get along, and it was clear before their first fight. Whittaker has even admitted that his ego caused him the first fight.

Speaking to Stake, Israel Adesanya spared his thoughts on Whittaker. Adesanya questioned Whittaker’s temperament and claimed he was not as good as people believe him to be. To illustrate, he suggested Whittaker’s attitude before their first fight. Whittaker initially denied the effect Adesanya’s banter had on him, but later he affirmed he was not himself at their first meeting.

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To this, Adesanya said, “It was his [Whittaker] ego last time, but I called it from the fight [Whittaker vs Adesanya at UFC243]. I said at the time that he is acting out of character and I also said he is not being himself. People kept saying what a good guy he is, but trust me, he’s not. You don’t see that behind the scenes and now he’s admitted it was his ego that got the best of him. Well, I told you so, he should have listened to me”

Israel Adesanya suggests Whittaker wouldn’t follow the game plan

Adesanya outclassed Whittaker in their first fight, both inside and outside the octagon. Though Whittaker has looked amazing in his last three fights, his opponents were not at the level of Adesanya.

Whittaker is looking to follow the same game plan, Jan Blachowicz, had against Adesanya. In contrast, Adesanya would look to avoid the fight going that route. Adesanya predicted Whittaker can’t perform like Blachowicz and will fall back to his original game plan.

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Adesanya expressed to Stake, “Whittaker may have learned from his mistakes from last time, for maybe a round or so, but then, trust me, he will revert back to those errors.”

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What do you think of Adesanya’s conclusion? Will he get into Whittaker’s head again? Who will walk out as champion at UFC 271? Let us know in the comment section.