MELBOURNE, Australia – Israel Adesanya is certain his next fight is going to be for the UFC middleweight title, even if he has to watch another championship bout play out first. Adesanya (16-0 MMA, 5-0 UFC) believes his unanimous decision victory over Anderson (34-9 MMA, 17-5 UFC) in Saturday’s UFC 234 headliner should put him at the front of what had suddenly become a very messy queue to compete for the 185-pound belt. Champ Robert Whittaker (20-4 MMA, 11-2 UFC) was supposed to defend against Kelvin Gastelum (16-3 MMA, 10-3 UFC) on the card but was forced to withdraw just hours before the event got started due to a hernia issue that required “emergency surgery.” Related Twitter reacts to Israel Adesanya's thrilling win over Anderson Silva at UFC 234 Gastelum showed up at UFC 234 with a mock belt and declared himself the new champion , and Adesanya noticed. He said he’s not sure how everything is going to turn out with Whittaker’s timeline for return still a mystery, but he does know that the next time he steps in the octagon a piece of gold will be on the line
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Israel Adesanya on middleweight title picture after UFC 234: ‘I’m the No. 1 contender’ – MMA Junkie