Ahead of his middleweight title fight at UFC 281, Israel Adesanya is already looking at future plans.
The only loss on Israel Adesanya’s professional MMA record was at the hands of Jan Blachowicz at UFC 259 last year. The two faced off for Blachowicz’s light heavyweight title at the time, as he successfully defended it via decision.
“The Last Stylebender” has since defended the middleweight title a total of three times, with a potential fourth straight win this Saturday at UFC 281 against Alex Pereira. But even with his tall task at hand, it didn’t stop him from looking into the future, which apparently involves jumping up in weight classes.
“I’ll lap the division again. Then I’ll go back up at some point, just for my own… maybe a little bit of ego. But just ‘cause I can do it,” Adesanya told reporters during the pre-fight media day on Wednesday.
“I see 205ers walking around, I’m just like, ‘Huh.’ And everyone that sees me, the first thing they say ‘Oh my god, you’re so bigger, you’re so much bigger…’
But Adesanya says he’s not exactly looking for title fights if he does move up in weight again.
“It doesn’t have to be for the belt. Right now, the other Paradigm guy Jiri’s got the belt, so let him do his thing. I just like testing myself. Again, there’s heavyweight.
“I’m not saying I can beat every 205 guy or every f—ng heavyweight. But they’ll have problems with me. There’ll be times when Eugene might say ‘Take that guy out.’ And I’m like, ‘Who? What? Alright, bet.’ And I’ll take him out.”
Adesanya and Pereira will headline UFC 281 this weekend, which happens at Madison Square Garden.