• Football
  • Boxing
  • UFC
  • Home
  • Football
    • England
    • Transfer News
    • Premier League
    • Champions League
    • Lionel Messi
    • Cristiano Ronaldo
    • EA FC 25
    • Wrexham
  • Boxing
    • Tyson Fury
    • Anthony Joshua
    • Oleksandr Usyk
    • Mike Tyson
    • Jake Paul
    • Logan Paul
  • UFC
    • Dana White
    • Conor McGregor
    • Khabib Nurmagomedov
    • Jon Jones
    • Paddy Pimblett
    • Joe Rogan
  • Other Sport
    • Athletics
    • Formula 1
    • MMA
    • Motorsport
    • NBA
    • Darts
    • NFL
    • Snooker
    • Wrestling
    • Tennis
    • Cricket
    • Golf
  • Advertise
  • Terms
  • Privacy & Cookies
  • LADbible Group
  • LADbible
  • UNILAD
  • GAMINGbible
  • Tyla
  • UNILAD Tech
  • FOODbible
  • License Our Content
  • About Us & Contact
  • Jobs
  • Latest
  • Topics A-Z
  • Authors
Facebook
Instagram
X
Threads
Snapchat
TikTok
YouTube
Robert Whittaker tells Israel Adesanya 'you can't hold a grudge on five-year-olds' in scathing assessment

Home> MMA

Published 01:43 19 Apr 2023 GMT+1

Robert Whittaker tells Israel Adesanya 'you can't hold a grudge on five-year-olds' in scathing assessment

The Australian had his say on The Last Stylebender's 'petty' celebration.

Jayden Collins

Jayden Collins

Israel Adesanya ruffled quite a few feathers in the UFC world for his over-the-top celebrations following his win against Alex Pereira.

The Last Stylebender regained his middleweight championship after finally conquering his combat sports rival.

The new champ had suffered three losses on the trot to the Brazilian across kickboxing and MMA which undeniably weighed him.

It didn’t help the fact that he probably had visions of Pereira’s son mocking him back during their kickboxing days - something her certainly didn’t forget after finally knocking out the kid’s father.

Following his win, he went over to the cage pointed directly at Poatan’s son and fell to the floor mimicking his father’s fall to the ground, as well as a celebration the boy had previously done to mock Adesanya.

Advert

Yes, it was petty. But the Nigerian-born fighter didn’t care, it was his moment of redemption.

While many thought the kid was fair game, others weren’t too pleased with the lack of sportsmanship shown by the two-time middleweight champion.

One man who has since criticised Adesanya, is a former opponent of his - Robert Whittaker.

In an interview on The MMA Hour, the Australian said: “He admitted it himself, he’s a petty dude.

Advert

“But dude, you can’t hold a grudge on five-year-olds.

"If I held a grudge with every five-year-old that pissed me off, I’d be fighting for the next 40 years of my life.”

Some had praised New Zealander for admitting his pettiness, but for Whittaker that doesn’t make it okay.

Advert

He continued: “Can I just clarify something? He said he’s petty, he admitted it with such energy.

“To everyone listening and watching, that doesn’t make it a good thing.

“Don’t get confused, just because he does it and admits it like a champ doesn’t mean it’s a good thing - don’t be petty.”

Elsewhere in the interview the #2 ranked middleweight made his case for a third fight with the current champ, believing he can beat him this time around.

Advert

He said: “I’m in this game and he’s got the belt and I want to win. I want to take that from him. I’m going to beat him.

“Izzy fought Pereira four times over the course of his career. I’m only gonna need to fight Izzy three times because I will beat him that next time.

“I’m 100% confident that I will beat him that next time.”

Featured Image Credit: The MMA Hour/YouTube. UFC 287.

Topics: Israel Adesanya, Robert Whittaker, MMA, UFC

Jayden Collins
Jayden Collins

Jayden Collins is a Journalist at SPORTbible. He has worked across multiple media platforms in areas such as sport, music, pop culture, entertainment and politics. He is part of the editorial team for LADbible Australia.

Advert

Advert

Advert

Choose your content:

16 hours ago
19 hours ago
a day ago
  • 16 hours ago

    Dana White leaks strict rules for 'crazy' UFC White House event as US Secret Service demands revealed

    Dana White revealed how the proposed UFC White House event will go down.

    MMA
  • 19 hours ago

    Jon Jones makes retirement U-turn as Dana White reveals his ‘dream main event’ for UFC White House card

    White claims the White House event will be “the baddest card of all time".

    MMA
  • a day ago

    Dana White ruthlessly cuts six UFC fighters from roster including incredibly 'harsh' release

    Six fighters have been released from the UFC roster.

    MMA
  • a day ago

    Jake Paul responds after Ben Askren says he 'died four times' during double lung surgery in shocking video

    Askren has been hospitalised in Wisconsin following a severe case of pneumonia, and this week underwent a major operation

    MMA
  • Israel Adesanya in fiery incident with UFC fan after hearing him make comment about Jon Jones
  • Eagle-eyed fans spot what Israel Adesanya did seconds before being submitted at UFC 305
  • Dricus du Plessis brutally mocks Israel Adesanya for crying during UFC 305 press conference
  • Israel Adesanya bursts into tears during heated UFC 305 press conference with Dricus du Plessis