Amid all the chaos of last weekend, which included a couple of heavyweight victories at UFC Beijing, as well as the Tito Ortiz vs. Chuck Liddell train wreck, news broke that top middleweight contender, Israel Adesanya, would be fighting Anderson Silva at UFC 234.
Can’t say we didn’t see it coming.
But now that “Last Stylebender” is ditching the back-up plans for the Robert Whittaker vs. Kelvin Gastelum title fight, he can prepare for the LeBron James vs. Michael Jordan match up of mixed martial arts (MMA), according to his conversation with The MMA Hour.
“This means more to me than the fucking world title,” said Adesanya. “I’m getting choked up right now even thinking about it. Like honestly, this fucking means the world to me. UFC 90 was the first time I watched this guy fight live. Before that I was watching him on DVDs fucking murking dudes. This is like LeBron James getting to face Michael Jordan.”
I’m assuming he means the 2018 Jordan.
This fight was not made without criticism, as the 15-0 Adesanya is still just 29 years old and in the prime of his combat sports career. Silva (34-8, 1 NC), meanwhile, turns 44 next April and has competed just once over the last two years, a questionable decision win over Derek Brunson.
Yes, the same Brunson who got smoked by Adesanya at UFC 230.
Prior to that, Silva dropped four of five with one no contest, failed a drug test, and shattered his leg. I’m not sure what’s left for him to offer at this point aside from the memory of his glory days, so let’s just hope the ending is quick and painless.
For more on UFC 234 click here.
