Israel Adesanya simply doesn’t have time for pointless drama.
Whereas he’s one of the ferocious rivals contained in the octagon and broadly thought-about one of many biggest middleweight champions in UFC historical past, Adesanya isn’t holding onto animosity for any of his previous opponents, irrespective of the outcome of their fights. That was by no means extra evident than Adesanya just lately including Robert Whittaker to his steady of coaching companions earlier than sitting subsequent to Alex Pereira at UFC 312 on Saturday in Australia.
Adesanya engaged in six fights throughout two sports activities with Pereira and Whittaker, however he would a lot moderately think about them allies than enemies for the longer term.
“With all these guys, what’s hating Alex or hating Rob or anybody else do for me?” Adesanya mentioned throughout an look at UFC 312. “It doesn’t serve me in any respect. It’s simply poisoning myself. I’m holding onto hate in my coronary heart for somebody that’s moved on. So why would I try this? I’m not that sort of individual. I’m only a chill man.”
As a lot because it appeared like Pereira was the boogeyman lurking round each nook with three wins in opposition to Adesanya previous to their fourth encounter within the UFC, “The Final Stylebender” guarantees he was by no means chasing that combat prefer it haunted him someway.
In reality, Adesanya is fast to level out that Pereira got here to the UFC seeking to renew their rivalry after the Brazilian turned his full-time consideration in the direction of MMA after a really profitable kickboxing profession.
“I used to be even telling Alex earlier than — like I mentioned earlier, that is combating, you’ve obtained to be a person about this,” Adesanya defined. “When you don’t combat, you’re not a person, you don’t perceive, however we shot a good one, that’s it. Cool.
“I even advised Alex ‘bro, you beat me in Brazil, that was a good one, cool. I left you alone. You chased me. In order that’s your drawback.’ That was his fault.”
The identical goes for Adesanya when he’s requested about his most up-to-date opponent Nassourdine Imavov, who knocked him out within the second spherical within the UFC Saudi Arabia important occasion.
Whereas Adesanya clearly went into that combat with victory on his thoughts, he’s not holding onto any undue unwell emotions in the direction of Imavov simply because he obtained the job finished that evening.
“Folks ask me concerning the Imavov rematch. I’m like why?” Adesanya mentioned. “There’s no want except down the road one thing for the belt. Perhaps he turns into champion, and I get my approach there, however I don’t suppose I’ve obtained to get it again.
“That’s not how combating works. That’s not how I see it except it’s on some actual beef private shit however nah, you shot a good one you beat me or I beat you, good sport, we’ll transfer on, we’ll transfer ahead.”
Relating to transferring ahead, Adesanya isn’t in a rush to e book his subsequent combat with plans to take time without work, get better from his loss, after which he’ll begin plotting his subsequent transfer.
He was already stunned on Saturday when the UFC sprung the information on him that he was going to be inducted into the Corridor of Fame for his legendary combat with Kelvin Gastelum from 2019.
Adesanya appreciated the acknowledgement for one among his career-defining fights, however even in defeat, he is aware of he’s nonetheless making unforgettable moments that stay on past his days competing within the UFC.
“Actually, I wouldn’t change something,” Adesanya mentioned. “The prospect to have the ability to really feel these moments, regardless it’s at all times making historical past. I’m making historical past even once I lose. I’m grateful even to Nassourdine Imavov as a result of we shot a good one; he beat me. Cool, we transfer on. I transfer ahead to the following one. I used to be grateful that I didn’t come out harm. Grateful that my household got here out to help me. I might take them someplace like Dubai, and I might simply hang around with my siblings.
“As a result of I believe individuals count on you to react the best way that they’d react, however they don’t perceive. You haven’t finished what I’ve finished. So we’re not the identical. I used to be grateful for that second. Grateful for the week, and I’m grateful for tonight as properly.”
