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Nigerian Stylebender Israel Adesanya and rival Robert Whittaker turn best friends, and train together in 2025.
Former UFC champions Israel Adesanya and rival Robert Whittaker have taken social media by storm.
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21:40 - 07.01.2025
Israel Adesanya: Nigerian Stylebender makes changes ahead of UFC Saudi Arabia
Nigerian Stylebender Israel Adesanya makes changes ahead of fight with Nassourdine Imavov in UFC Saudi Arabia
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23:50 - 12.01.2025
Winning has no meaning - Israel Adesanya details mindset ahead of UFC clash with Nassourdine Imavov
See what Israel Adesanya has to say ahead of his clash with Nassourdine Imavov at the UFC Fight Night clash in Saudi Arabia.
Adesanya recently posted pictures and a video of himself practicing with Whittaker.
Israel Adesanya and Robert Whittaker
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Adesanya previously faced Whittaker in two title fights but on social media, framing their relationship as buddies.
Along with a selection of pictures training was a message that said, “New year, new friends.”
As they begin their 2025 campaigns, Whittaker was born and raised there and also represents Australia, while Adesanya, a native of Nigeria, has lived in New Zealand.
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The pictures suggest they are in a much better mood than they did during their competitive days.
After defeating Whittaker in a spectacular second-round knockout in Melbourne in 2019, Adesanya emerged as the undisputed UFC middleweight champion.
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Later, at UFC 271 in 2022, he defeated Whittaker by unanimous decision to keep the championship.
After losing their last bouts, both fighters need a victory which brought about training together.
In August of last year, Adesanya was submitted by Dricus du Plessis, failing to capture a title for the third time.
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Whittaker, on the other hand, lost to Khamzat Chimaev via harsh submission this past October.
When Adesanya takes on Nassourdine Imavov, a rising middleweight contender, in the main event of UFC Saudi Arabia on February 1, he already has his next task set up.
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