Glendale, AZ — Israel Adesanya defeated Marvin Vettori in the main event of UFC 263, which marked his third fight in nine months. That’s something that the middleweight champion is quite proud of.
“This is my third fight in nine months. I don’t wait around like the rest of these guys; the rest of these champions just talk about being active. I don’t talk about it; I just do it. I’m an active champion,” Adesanya said during the UFC 263 post-fight press conference.
During his post-fight interview with Joe Rogan, he called for Robert Whittaker, who is undoubtedly the No. 1 contender. The last time they fought, the pair fought in Australia, but now the champion wants the fight in his hometown.
“So, I’m putting out there into the ether, into the universe that I want it in Auckland. I don’t like too much free time, especially now when I’m in [my] prime. But, yeah, so it could be ‘Fight Island’ No. 3. Go to ‘Fight Island’ for a third time, maybe. If not, maybe back in America somewhere, but it would be so awesome if it was in Auckland so that I can do it on my home turf,” Adesanya said.
Wherever the rematch takes place, it will be one of the biggest fights that the promotion can put on.
Adesanya also spoke Saturday of the moment he saw Marvin Vettori essentially break during their main event fight at UFC 263.
“I swear to God, I saw his soul leave his eyes. I saw it. And I said to him, ‘you’re scared, aren’t you? You scared aren’t you?’ I said that to him. Find that tape,” recalled Adesanya. “And I felt very powerful in that moment, just taking his soul away. But he’s tough, I’ll give him that. He’s tough. But that moment for me was very powerful, because I took hope away form him.”
Watch the full UFC 263 post-fight press conference with Israel Adesanya above.
