UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya is all set in his bid to become the first fighter to hold both 185-pound 205-pound gold in the UFC this weekend.
However, “The Last Stylebender” says he won’t be putting on too much weight for his bout with UFC light heavyweight king Jan Blachowicz at UFC 259.
“I’m gonna keep the same energy during my fight week,” Adesanya told ESPN‘s Ariel Helwani when asked what weight he’ll be on Friday. “I’m not gonna go crazy and f**king order Uber Eats and cakes and whatever. I’m just gonna keep the same energy.”
Given how much confidence he exudes, it’s not out of the question that Adesanya has full faith in his pre-fight routines that took him to the top of the middleweight division and doesn’t plan on deviating from what brought him success to begin with – even if he’s competing at a weight class that is officially 20 pounds heavier than his.
In fact, Adesanya said he could still make the 185-pound middleweight limit if he wanted to, before adding: “Don’t be surprised if I weigh in at like 193 [pounds].”
Considering the dominance and subsequent status of some of the UFC middleweight champions before him and how they never took the step to become a light heavyweight champion, victory over Blachowicz will be no easy feat for Adesanya at UFC 259.
There will be a difference of size between the Nigeria-born Kiwi and the man who possesses that patented Polish power. For Adesanya, it’s more important to maintain the physique that brought him to this stage than balloon up in weight to try and match the bigger men up at 205 pounds.
“It’s just silly to me when people go and decide to add more muscles to their frame that they’re not used to over the years working this game.
“For me, I just do this thing different,” he added. “I want to bring it back to the rawness of martial arts, technique. Don’t worry about weight, don’t worry about all that. There’s a point where it becomes a favor for the other guy, but not this time. I don’t think he’s [Blachowicz] gonna put on enough weight to be an issue for me and if he tries to, he’s going to f**k himself over.”