UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya is delighted to be facing the fresh challenge that Jarod Cannonier will provide when the two share the Octagon at UFC 276, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.
The Nigerian-born New Zealander will defend his middleweight crown against the former heavyweight champion early on Sunday morning in the main event of UFC 276 in Las Vegas.
The dominating UFC king relishes the idea of testing himself against the in-form Cannonier.
He told SunSport, “I’m very excited (to be fighting Jared).
“I’m excited to be fighting someone that I’ve not fought before. I’m excited that it’s a fresh fight; new blood, new energy and I’m ready to go.”
Former heavyweight Cannonier has won five of his last six outings and four of these wins came through stoppage. Although, a tough matchup, ‘Stylebender’ is happy to have a new type of fight on his table after a run of consecutive rematches.
Fans favourite Adesanya – who recently inked a bumper new deal with UFC – goes into his fifth title defence on the back of a dominant victory over Aussie rival Robert Whittaker.
Adesanya is looking to successfully defend his middleweight title again as he chases the record 10 defenses set by Anderson Silva.
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