Reasons To Watch UFC 271: Adesanya vs Whittaker 2

At the pre-fight press conference for UFC 271, former UFC middleweight champion Robert Whittaker put it best: “You can see the level difference between us (Adesanya) and the rest of the division.”

In Saturday’s main event, the two best middleweights in the world will finally face each other again in a highly anticipated rematch. The last time Adesanya and Whittaker met, the Nigeria native knocked “The Reaper” out in front of the largest crowd in UFC history to become the undisputed middleweight king. Leading up to the bout, Adesanya was as confident as could be, and in his mind, the way UFC 243 ended was inevitable.

While Adesanya entered Marvel Stadium in Melbourne, Australia with all the confidence in the world, it was the champion, Whittaker, who was mentally feeling the pressure. Subsequently, Whittaker fought angry, and he lost the title as a result.

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Whittaker may have been the champion going into UFC 243, but the popularity of his opponent was undeniable. The flashy knockouts, confidence, and showmanship displayed by Adesanya made him a huge fan favorite and a must-see fighter.

Since that night in Melbourne, Australia, Adesanya has gone on to successfully defend the title three times and the champion is as confident as ever entering his fourth title defense. But while Adesanya was defending the title, Whittaker has been clawing his way back to the top, securing three dominant decision victories over Darren Till, Jared Cannonier, and Kelvin Gastelum in the process.

MORE UFC 271: Israel Adesanya's Best Moments | Fight By Fight Preview 

The biggest difference this time around? Whittaker understands the assignment and knows he has what it takes to become champion. He’s done it before, and he’s more than capable of doing it again. Easier said than done, of course, when you’re standing in front of Adesanya, who is barely entering his prime, and who is always the most confident one in the room. Remember, though, there is a reason why Whittaker was once the champion of the world.

The Clash Of The Titans

Since the early days of the UFC, the heavyweight division has always been a favorite of fight fans thanks to the brutal knockouts and larger than life personalities that have made it a must-watch division for years. Saturday’s co-main event is no different, as Derrick Lewis returns to his hometown of Houston to take on rising contender Tai Tuivasa.

Chances are, even the most casual fans of the sport have seen Lewis or Tuivasa at some point. Whether it was one of Lewis’s many devastating knockouts and hilarious moments on the microphone, or Tuivasa’s signature post-fight shoey celebration, for fans, this truly is a win-win fight.

After an unsuccessful outing against Ciryl Gane for the interim UFC heavyweight championship, Lewis has been determined to find his way back to the title picture. “The Black Beast” will be entering the Toyota Center fresh off a first-round knockout over Kyle Daukaus in December, and while many already considered him the most dangerous fighter in the UFC, Lewis made it official that night by setting the record for the most knockouts in UFC history with 13.

UFC 271 COUNTDOWN: Full Episode | Adesanya vs Whittaker 2 | Lewis vs Tuivasa

Tuivasa, however, is a UFC veteran, having stepped into the Octagon 10 times while only 28 years old. By his third fight, he won a unanimous decision victory over former UFC heavyweight champion, Andrei Arlovski. And though he had a brief rough patch, Tuivasa found his stride and is currently on a four-fight win streak. Each win has come by knockout, three of which coming in the first round.

The co-main event has everything it needs to steal the show on Saturday. Will we see Lewis deliver another highlight reel knockout and return to the title picture? Or will Tuivasa take out the most dangerous heavyweight in the game and stake his claim as a real contender for the heavyweight title?

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