“Still in there, Rent free,” Israel Adesanya talks about mental warfare ahead of Robert Whittaker fight at UFC 271


“Still in there, Rent free,” Israel Adesanya talks about mental warfare ahead of Robert Whittaker fight at UFC 271

Israel Adesanya and Robert Whittaker face off at UFC 271 press conference

Israel Adesanya and Robert Whittaker did not try to shy away from saying what they felt about the other at the UFC 271 pre-fight press conference.

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Everything is set for a spectacular middleweight title rematch. It has taken Robert Whittaker four years to work his way back to a rematch against his nemesis Israel Adesanya. Back in 2019, Adesanya knocked out Whittaker in front of his home crowd at UFC 243 to become the undisputed middleweight champion.

Bobby Knuckles has admitted that he let Izzy’s trash talk and mind games get to him which led to the devastating defeat. In the press conference, Adesanya and Whittaker reflected on what has happened over time and Robert’s new mental approach to this rematch at UFC 271.

Related WATCH: Israel Adesanya mocks Whittaker with an NFT chain playing the KO from their last fight at UFC 243

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“When you beat them you are in their head,” Israel Adesanya at the press conference

Israel Adesanya UFC 271 press conference
Israel Adesanya at the press conference

“From being in tough nationals to being the UFC middleweight champion, this guy [Whittaker] did a lot of work and he ran through everyone. Until he ran into me. Then I stopped that shit,” said Adesanya talking about Whittaker’s career. “The last three fights, he has done what he always has done. He’s improved but he’s always been a beast. I am a different beast but the same animal.”

Adesanya then explained why he has the upper hand in this fight being a rematch. “After beating them you are in their head. I was already in there anyway but you are already in their head once you beat them. The way I did it last time, you cannot get over that. He has admitted what I said in 2019. I was calling it as I saw it.”

“He admitted that I was right. So yeah, I still have properties in there, rent-free,” ended Adesanya. Whittaker has said that he has put on a lot of work this time around and wants to make sure that he does not let Izzy’s mind games get to him.

Also read “Let’s swang and bang then” Derrick Lewis and Tai Tuivasa go back and forth over fight prediction

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