Israel Adesanya Vs. Robert Whittaker II Is Targeted For January

The Last Stylebender and Reaper are going to share the octagon for the second time in early 2022.

UFC President Dana White said he’s working on the awaited rematch to happen in January. He added that he is confident it’ll be booked eventually.

“We will do everything in our power to get that worked out,” White said. “…Although you know what sucks? With everything that’s going on right now, when you think about that fight, that fight should be done over there (in Australia or New Zealand). But that ain’t gonna happen.”

Adesanya (21-1) and Whittaker (24-5) first met each other at UFC 243, where Adesanya defeated Whittaker twice.

At the end of the first round, Adesanya dropped Whittaker with a massive left hook, but left no time to finish him on the ground. Adesanya finished what he started in the first round in the second round and won the undisputed middleweight title via knockout.

Since facing each other, both fighters archived their own success.

Adesanya defended his middleweight title three times against Yoel Romero, Paulo Costa and Marvin Vettori, but failed to become a double champion. At UFC 259, he faced Jan Blachowicz, and suffered his first-ever loss in his professional MMA career.

Still, Adesanya plans to defend his title in the middleweight and taste his powers in the light heavyweight division for the second time.

Whittaker earned three impressive victories in a row. He defeated English prospect Darren Till via unanimous decision and then Jared Cannonier and Kelvin Gastelum.