Investing.com - Financial Markets Worldwide
Get 40% Off
Get 40% Off
🚨 Volatile Markets? Find Hidden Gems for Serious OutperformanceFind Stocks Now

Mixed Martial Arts-Adesanya aims to join UFC's exclusive "champ champ" club

Published 05/03/2021, 13:45
Updated 05/03/2021, 13:48

By Philip O'Connor
March 5 (Reuters) - Middleweight champion Israel Adesanya
could join an elite group at UFC 259 in Las Vegas on Saturday by
holding two belts simultaneously in different weight classes,
but to do so he will have to overcome the power and size of
light-heavyweight incumbent Jan Blachowicz.
Adesanya will make a considerable step-up in weight from 185
to 205 pounds to take on Poland's Blachowicz in the main event
on Saturday.
In the co-main event, Amanda Nunes puts her featherweight
title on the line against Megan Anderson while bantamweight
champion Petr Yan defends his belt against Aljamain Sterling.
Ireland's Conor McGregor became the first "champ champ" when
he added the lightweight belt to his featherweight crown in
2016. Since then Nunes, Daniel Cormier and Henry Cejudo have all
followed in his footsteps, and Nigeria's Adesanya says he is the
next fighter destined for greatness.
"It's inevitable. I just have to get used to it. I just have
to accept it and not hide from the role that I'm in and not hide
from the platform that I'm on," he told a news conference.
"It (the double champions club) is a very elite, exclusive
club, and I'm going to be the fifth one to join that club."
Widely acknowledged as the greatest female fighter of all
time, Brazil's Nunes is looking to extend an 11-fight winning
streak that includes victories in eight straight title fights at
bantamweight and featherweight when she meets Anderson.
"I feel like she's very dangerous. This is a huge thing in
her gameplan, she's tall and long, I feel that can be a little
difficult, to figure that out," Nunes told reporters.
"But in the first exchange, if I find my timing and
everything, I will finish her," she added.

3rd party Ad. Not an offer or recommendation by Investing.com. See disclosure here or remove ads .

Latest comments

Install Our App
Risk Disclosure: Trading in financial instruments and/or cryptocurrencies involves high risks including the risk of losing some, or all, of your investment amount, and may not be suitable for all investors. Prices of cryptocurrencies are extremely volatile and may be affected by external factors such as financial, regulatory or political events. Trading on margin increases the financial risks.
Before deciding to trade in financial instrument or cryptocurrencies you should be fully informed of the risks and costs associated with trading the financial markets, carefully consider your investment objectives, level of experience, and risk appetite, and seek professional advice where needed.
Fusion Media would like to remind you that the data contained in this website is not necessarily real-time nor accurate. The data and prices on the website are not necessarily provided by any market or exchange, but may be provided by market makers, and so prices may not be accurate and may differ from the actual price at any given market, meaning prices are indicative and not appropriate for trading purposes. Fusion Media and any provider of the data contained in this website will not accept liability for any loss or damage as a result of your trading, or your reliance on the information contained within this website.
It is prohibited to use, store, reproduce, display, modify, transmit or distribute the data contained in this website without the explicit prior written permission of Fusion Media and/or the data provider. All intellectual property rights are reserved by the providers and/or the exchange providing the data contained in this website.
Fusion Media may be compensated by the advertisers that appear on the website, based on your interaction with the advertisements or advertisers.
© 2007-2024 - Fusion Media Limited. All Rights Reserved.