Adesanya Teams Up with Ex-Rival Whittaker Ahead of UFC Return

Former two-time UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya has sparked intrigue in the MMA world by joining forces with his former rival, Robert Whittaker, as he prepares for his comeback fight against Nassourdine Imavov at UFC Saudi Arabia next month.

Adesanya, born in Nigeria and raised in New Zealand, shared training footage on social media featuring Whittaker, captioning the post “New year, new friends.” The unexpected collaboration caught many off guard, as the pair had previously faced off in two heated contests. Adesanya defeated Whittaker via second-round knockout at UFC 243 in 2019 to claim the middleweight title and later secured a unanimous decision victory in their rematch in 2022.

The surprising partnership has drawn reactions from across the MMA community. Former middleweight champion Alex Pereira commented “Chama,” which translates to “passion” in Portuguese, while UFC analyst Laura Sanko joked, “Now we need a buddy cop movie.” Fellow fighters like bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling and featherweight king Alexander Volkanovski also expressed their excitement, writing “Love to see it!” and “F*****g love this lads!” respectively.

Whittaker, despite their history, has openly supported Adesanya’s chances against Imavov. Speaking on his YouTube channel, the Australian praised Adesanya’s skill set. “I’d have to lean into Izzy being the favourite. He’s so good at what he does,” Whittaker said. However, he also warned of Imavov’s potential to pose a challenge. “Imavov’s a bit of a dog. He can go the distance, his striking is good, and I can see him pushing the pace to try to make Adesanya make errors, much like how Dricus [Du Plessis] fought him.”

Israel Adesanya sparring with Robert Witthaker

Adesanya’s return comes after a difficult period in his career. The 35-year-old last fought in August 2024, when he lost his title to Du Plessis at UFC 305. That defeat followed a stunning upset by Sean Strickland at UFC 293, marking the first time Adesanya had suffered consecutive losses in his professional career.

For Adesanya, the fight against Imavov is critical. Ranked fifth in the middleweight division, Imavov is a durable opponent known for his striking and relentless pace. A victory on February 1 would not only restore Adesanya’s standing but could also pave the way for a title shot or a high-stakes contender bout later in the year.

Meanwhile, Whittaker is also on the comeback trail after suffering a submission loss to Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 308. That fight left him sidelined with facial and jaw injuries, but the former champion remains focused on returning to contention in the middleweight division.

The partnership between Adesanya and Whittaker underscores the respect that exists between two of the division’s best. While their rivalry may have defined a chapter in their careers, their mutual goal of redemption has brought them together, setting the stage for an intriguing year in the UFC. Fans will eagerly watch to see if this collaboration helps propel Adesanya back to the top.