Robert Whittaker has offered a detailed look at Israel Adesanya’s recent struggles while he prepares for his own jump to light heavyweight.
Whittaker and Adesanya shared the Octagon twice at middleweight, at UFC 243 in 2019 and UFC 271 in 2022, with Adesanya winning both bouts. Now, as Whittaker gears up for a move to 205 pounds, Adesanya is on a four-fight losing streak following a defeat to Joe Pyfer at UFC Seattle.
“But I think ultimately one of the shots that landed in that last sequence hurt him to a degree where he kind of went on autopilot and took the fight into a range and into a mess that Pyfer really is good at, he loves being in,” Whittaker said. “I think one of the shots is what put Izzy into that autopilot kind of zone where he didn’t make the most accurate reads. He’s much better at distance.”
Whittaker believes Adesanya, who turns 37 in July and has given no indication that he plans to retire, is at a crossroads. “It is what it is. I think he needs to find that hunger,” Whittaker said, later adding, “If he wants to press on, I’m 100 percent with him,” and, “I love working with him and I’d love to see his journey continue and I’d love to see him get back up there.”
Whittaker and Adesanya have formed a partnership in recent years, with Whittaker frequently visiting Adesanya’s City Kickboxing Gym in New Zealand. “I kicked off this year at CKB,” Whittaker said. “I jumped over the gap to New Zealand and spent some time with Izzy and Carlos and the boys and Navajo… We have a really good working relationship right now.”
As Whittaker readies for his light heavyweight debut, he denied a rumor that Magomed Ankalaev will be his first opponent at 205 pounds.
