Johnny Walker is set to return to action. As per ESPN, Walker is slated to face Ryan Spann in a light heavyweight bout taking place at the UFC 253 pay-per-view event. Both fighters have agreed to the bout and an official announcement should be expected soon. After a meteoric rise in the UFC, Walker with […]
Johnny Walker is set to return to action.
As per ESPN, Walker is slated to face Ryan Spann in a light heavyweight bout taking place at the UFC 253 pay-per-view event. Both fighters have agreed to the bout and an official announcement should be expected soon.
After a meteoric rise in the UFC, Walker with three straight first-round knockouts, Walker finds himself on a two-fight losing skid. He was TKO’d by Corey Anderson at UFC 244 last November before getting outpointed by Nikita Krylov at UFC Brasilia in March.
He will be looking to return to the win column with a bang against Spann.
It won’t be an easy test, though. Like Walker, Spann is a 205 prospect who has won his last eight outings overall while being 4-0 in the UFC. His most recent win was a split verdict over Sam Alvey at UFC 249 in May.
UFC 253 has no confirmed location as of yet. However, it is expected that it will take place in Yas Island, Abu Dhabi. A middleweight title fight between Israel Adesanya and Paulo Costa is expected to headline the card.
Following his victory over Darren Till, Robert Whittaker feels prepared to be on standby in case Israel Adesanya or Paulo Costa can’t compete at UFC 253. On July 25, Whittaker shared the Octagon with Till. This was Whittaker’s first bout si…
Following his victory over Darren Till, Robert Whittaker feels prepared to be on standby in case Israel Adesanya or Paulo Costa can’t compete at UFC 253. On July 25, Whittaker shared the Octagon with Till. This was Whittaker’s first bout since Oct. 2019 when he was stopped by Adesanya, losing the UFC middleweight title in […]
Robert Whittaker gave his thoughts on the planned middleweight title fight between Israel Adesanya and Paulo Costa. Although there is no official announcement, it is expected that Adesanya will defend his middleweight title against Costa in the UFC 253 headliner on September 19 after both fighters reportedly signed their contracts. It’s an intriguing fight between […]
Robert Whittaker gave his thoughts on the planned middleweight title fight between Israel Adesanya and Paulo Costa.
Although there is no official announcement, it is expected that Adesanya will defend his middleweight title against Costa in the UFC 253 headliner on September 19 after both fighters reportedly signed their contracts.
It’s an intriguing fight between two fighters who not only despise each other, but are yet to taste defeat professionally. So who does Whittaker think will win?
“The Reaper” didn’t pick a winner, but does believe both fighters have what it takes to come away with the victory. Even Adesanya who he dislikes.
“Who can say? I think Adesanya has the skillset necessary to beat Costa,” Whittaker said during media day (via The Body Lock). “He’s very technical, he’s very good. He’s a good fighter. Don’t like him very much but he’s a good fighter.
“But Costa’s dangerous. He’s so explosive, he’s got mad cardio and he hits like a truck. Look at the size of him. I’m sure that does something, that has something to do with why he keeps hurting people. ‘Size doesn’t matter’ — look at the size of him! You fight him then and tell me it doesn’t matter. Yeah, let’s find out.”
Whittaker To Face Winner?
Whittaker last competed in October last year when he lost his middleweight title to Adesanya via knockout in the UFC 243 headliner. The heated buildup between the pair may be a reason as to why Whittaker dislikes him and why he felt the need to mention that fact unprovoked.
Regardless, Whittaker could earn the chance to win his title back with a win this weekend as he meets Darren Till in the main event of UFC Fight Island 3.
Maybe the stars could align for an Adesanya vs. Whittaker rematch.
UFC color commentator and analyst Dan Hardy thinks Paulo Costa could run into problems against Israel Adesanya, Robert Whittaker, and Darren Till. Costa is expected to challenge Adesanya for the UFC middleweight championship. While the bout has been re…
UFC color commentator and analyst Dan Hardy thinks Paulo Costa could run into problems against Israel Adesanya, Robert Whittaker, and Darren Till. Costa is expected to challenge Adesanya for the UFC middleweight championship. While the bout has been reported for Sept. 19 at UFC 253, UFC president Dana White says it isn’t a done deal […]
It looks like the middleweight title fight between Israel Adesanya and Paulo Costa is finally good to go. Despite initial reports that the fight was set for UFC 253 on September 19, Dana White denied those claims this past weekend stating that the fight wasn’t finalized as of yet. It was notably reported that one […]
It looks like the middleweight title fight between Israel Adesanya and Paulo Costa is finally good to go.
Despite initial reports that the fight was set for UFC 253 on September 19, Dana White denied those claims this past weekend stating that the fight wasn’t finalized as of yet.
It was notably reported that one of the fighters was yet to sign the contract with White refusing to divulge any further information.
“The fight’s not done yet. It doesn’t matter [who hasn’t signed]. The fight’s not done,” White responded. “The people are out saying that the fight is done when the fight isn’t done. You know what I mean? It drives me crazy.
“If the fight was done, you would have saw a promo tonight inside the arena. There would have been promos on TV for it. And we would be announcing the fight. It’s not done.”
Adesanya, Costa Have Both Signed Their Agreements
It has since been reported by ESPN’s Ariel Helwani on Monday that both fighters have now signed their agreements as per sources and that the middleweight title fight is good to go.
Adesanya and Costa have been slated to fight ever since the former won the middleweight title at UFC 243 in October last year.
However, a number of factors ranging from Costa requiring bicep surgery to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has delayed the fight. Hopefully, there are no more further delays and an official announcement is made soon.
Jack Hermansson thinks Paulo Costa will get the job done against Israel Adesanya. Hermansson has positioned himself as a top-ranked UFC middleweight. He’s just a few spots below Jared Cannonier on the pecking order, as he was defeated by Cannonie…
Jack Hermansson thinks Paulo Costa will get the job done against Israel Adesanya. Hermansson has positioned himself as a top-ranked UFC middleweight. He’s just a few spots below Jared Cannonier on the pecking order, as he was defeated by Cannonier via TKO in 2019. Costa is also expected to get the next crack at Adesanya’s […]