Former undisputed flyweight champion, Demetrious Johnson has warned fellow ex-UFC champion, Israel Adesanya from a much-speculated title battle return in opposition to newly-minted gold holder, Dricus du Plessis later this yr – questioning the stylistic matchup for the Metropolis Kickboxing staple.
Adesanya, a former two-time undisputed middleweight titleholder, has been sidelined since final September, most just lately suffered a championship battle loss to Sean Strickland in a large upset defeat at UFC 293 in Sydney.
And linked with a surprising comeback in a single day, the official Kingdom Enviornment web site listed ticket gross sales for a June 23. occasion in Saudi Arabia, showing to leak a middleweight primary occasion between Adesanya and unbeaten contender, Khamzat Chimaev.
Nevertheless, amid fervor on social media, UFC boss, Dana White denied that the Nigerian-Kiwi striker was preventing Chimaev on that date within the Center East, claiming the leak was a “faux publish” on the world’s web site.
Israel Adesanya warned of return by Demetrious Johnson
Additionally tied to a championship grudge match with Pretoria native, du Plessis later this yr, Adesanya ought to keep away from a battle with the newly-minted gold holder in accordance with the aforenoted, Johnson – until he has made important enhancements to his clinch recreation and grappling arsenal.
“I don’t like that battle [with Dricus du Plessis] for Izzy (Israel Adesanya), as a result of I really feel Izzy hasn’t taken sufficient time,” Demetrious Johnson informed MMA Combating. My query to Izzy could be, ‘Izzy, have you ever expertise he teim so as to add extra instruments to your toolset.’ As a result of, if I used to be that battle proper now, strategically, one of many issues Izzy likes to do, he likes to again up. He likes to counter a punch. So, if he likes to counter a punch, DDP does job of not overextending.”
“He doesn’t again up,” Johnson defined. “He often takes the middle of the cage and he strikes ahead, and goes to the middle and he goes both southpaw or orthodox.”
Do you wish to see Israel Adesanya battle Dricus du Plessis subsequent?
