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Israel Adesanya’s Potential Next Opponent Revealed By Dana White After Stunning Win Over Paulo Costa

Israel Adesanya’s Potential Next Opponent Revealed By Dana White After Stunning Win Over Paulo Costa

Israel Adesanya called potential opponent Jared Cannonier a "beautiful man" after his sensational victory over Paulo Costa at UFC 253.

Adnan Riaz

Adnan Riaz

UFC star Israel Adesanya could make his next middleweight title defence against Jared Cannonier should his potential opponent beat Robert Whittaker, according to Dana White.

The 31-year-old Nigerian-born New Zealander made his second title defence against rival Paulo Costa at UFC 253 in Abu Dhabi.

And the undefeated Adesanya put in a dominating performance as he forced a second-round TKO stoppage on 'Fight Island.'

When he was asked about the possibility of an Adesanya vs Cannonier fight, UFC president White responded: "Yeah, I mean that's the fight if Cannonier wins, and I love that about Israel you know: he is ready for who's next, who else thinks that they can beat me.

"The kid is an absolute stud."

Cannonier, 36, hasn't fought since his second-round TKO victory over Jack Hermansson last September.

But now 'Killa Gorilla' will make his return to the octagon against former middleweight champ Whittaker at UFC 254 on 24th October.

Adesanya came under heavy criticism in March after his lacklustre win over Yoel Romero at UFC 248.

However, the 'Last Stylebender' wasted no time in hitting out at his critics after his most recent performance against Costa.

"You all must have forgot. I have to make you remember, we're the best," Adesanya said.

Adesanya and Costa had a heated build-up to their UFC 253 encounter and the middleweight champ continued to take shots at the 29-year-old Brazilian after the fight.

He told ESPN: "He wаs slow, bro. Honestly. He wаs slower thаn I thought.

"Becаuse the highlights -- I'm fаster on TV аs well. But in reаl life, I could feel him. He wаs slow.

"When he loаds up on his kick. He hit me on the ribs twice. Meh. Nothing, I аte thаt. He didn't touch me on the fаce once, still pretty.

PA

"I could see him, I could see everything. I cut him аnd I wаs like, 'You hаve а little something, а little spot over here.' My shins, my skinny shins, sliced him open like а kаtаnа blаde."

Speaking after the Costa fight, Adesanya said he 'loves' Cannonier's energy and is ready to face him inside the octagon if he beats Whittaker.

"Anderson Silva lived a great legacy and I want to do service to the middleweight division," he said.

"Jared Cannonier, I love his energy, he's a beautiful man. I said, 'You destroy Robert Whittaker, you're next.'"

Featured Image Credit: BT Sport

Topics: UFC News, MMA News, Last Stylebender, UFC, MMA, Dana White, Israel Adesanya