UFC Announces Israel Adesanya Vs. Robert Whittaker II For UFC 271

It’s official.

Israel Adesanya (21-1) is scheduled to take on Robert Whittaker (24-5) for a second time in the octagon at UFC 271 on February 12 in Houston, Texas, the promotion tweeted on Saturday.

𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐑𝐄𝐌𝐀𝐓𝐂𝐇 𝐈𝐒 𝐎𝐍.

🇳🇬 @Stylebender vs 🇦🇺 @RobWhittakerMMA

[ #UFC271 | Feb 12 🔗https://t.co/ZrnO8qg7XH | @ToyotaCenter ] pic.twitter.com/dpW4jUTVWQ

— UFC (@ufc) December 12, 2021

This rematch has been in the making for over two years since their first meeting on October 6, 2019. Adesanya, the current UFC middleweight champion, defeated his Australian opponent by KO/TKO in the second round of UFC 243’s main event.

Adesanya went on to successfully defend his belt twice against Yoel Romero and Paulo Costa before a failed attempt at becoming double-champion against then-light heavyweight titleholder Jan Blachowicz.

But Adesanya responded to the Twitter announcement on Saturday, indicating that the bout was not finalized yet.

🧢

— Israel Adesanya (@stylebender) December 12, 2021

At the UFC 269’s post-fight press conference, UFC President Dana White was asked if it was happening or not.

“Why would we lie?” White said at the UFC 269 post-fight press conference. “When have we ever f–king lied? This fight’s coming up, we lied about it? … Some fights are harder to make than others, but I don’t think we’ve ever lied about making a fight. Why would we lie about that fight?”