As Israel Adesanya gears up for his high-stakes showdown at UFC Riyadh, Robert Whittaker, a familiar face in Adesanya’s career, has some crucial advice for his fellow fighter. Whittaker, who has faced Adesanya twice in the past, spent time with him recently in the lead-up to his fight against Nassourdine Imavov. The two, who have a shared history, were seen training together before Adesanya’s big return to the Octagon. Their time together wasn’t just about physical preparation, it also included a breakdown of the fight, where Whittaker offered some valuable insights into what Adesanya should avoid at all costs.
Imavov’s Grappling Could Be the Key
Adesanya, having come off consecutive losses to Dricus du Plessis and Sean Strickland, faces an opportunity to bounce back and possibly earn another shot at the title. However, standing in his way is the talented and well-rounded Imavov, who has climbed the ranks with victories over notable fighters like Brendan Allen, Jared Cannonier, and Roman Dolidze.
Whittaker, who himself is no stranger to facing tough competition, is quick to point out that while Adesanya’s striking is world-class, Imavov presents a different kind of challenge—one that could be disastrous for Adesanya if he’s not careful.
In a recent appearance on the MMArcade podcast, Whittaker explained, “Imavov’s grappling is very good. He gets the back of just about every opponent he fights. That’s kind of where the fight wins for him.” Whittaker continues, “He doesn’t beat Izzy in a five-round striking contest; he takes him down, tries to get his back, gets his back, and then whether or not Izzy defends that position and gets out of it.”
Whittaker is clear that Adesanya needs to avoid giving up his back at all costs. He stresses that it’s not just a small part of the fight—it’s essentially where Imavov can dominate and secure victory.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d9yl3l6l0T8&ab_channel=MMArcadePodcast
Whittaker’s Crucial Advice to Adesanya
“Granted it’s such a clear-cut direction for Imavov to try to achieve,” Whittaker added, “because like I said, every fight he’s had he gets the back. Gets that body triangle and just works it…that’s the fight we’re going to see.” For Whittaker, this is a pivotal aspect of the matchup. Imavov is well-known for getting to his opponents’ backs and staying there, often using the body triangle to control the position.
Whittaker’s advice to Adesanya is clear: “The idea with Adesanya moving into the fight is going to be to not give up the back at all costs.” He emphasizes that Imavov thrives in situations where he can control his opponent from the back, often using the body triangle to maintain dominance. This makes it crucial for Adesanya to avoid this position at all costs.
For Whittaker, the fight comes down to contrasting styles: “Adesanya trying to keep his space, piece him up, and Imavov trying to bully him up against the fence, close distance, try to take him down and get his back.” If Adesanya can keep the fight standing and maintain his distance, he has the advantage in a striking contest. But if Imavov manages to close the distance and implement his grappling, things could take a turn.
As Adesanya continues to prepare for his return, it’s clear that the advice from Whittaker, combined with his own exceptional skills, could play a pivotal role in his performance. Fans will be eagerly watching to see if Adesanya can avoid the trap Whittaker warns about and secure a much-needed victory on his road back to the top.
