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'I'm ready to run this whole division' - Israel Adesanya opens up about talk with UFC boss Dana White

November 21, 2018

The Nigerian born Kiwi fighter is undefeated in the UFC and could be a step closer a title shot after his next fight in the octagon.

Kiwi MMA star Israel Adesanya has remained tight-lipped about his next fight in the octagon, but has today opened up about his conversation with UFC boss Dana White in Sydney last week.

The 29-year-old fighter is on the fast track to a middleweight title shot following his four-win streak in the UFC this year.

He impressively defeated his US rival and veteran Derek Brunson earlier this month at UFC 230 in New York, via TKO in the first round.

Adesanya spoke to 1 NEWS today and said he expects big things to happen for him in 2019 following his meeting with White in Sydney.

"He's (White) in love with me I'm sure, I love him too like we're cool," said Adesanya.

"Initially at the post fight presser, I texted him right after the fight like 'yo it's my time.'

"He's like 'slow down kid, slow down.' But when I was in front of him, I was talking to him – I was like 'yo I'm not Sage Northcutt, I'm not just one of these guys that jumps in the UFC with no experience – I took my time.'"

Northcutt is an American MMA fighter who was touted by fighting experts to be a big star in the UFC, he has six wins and two losses in the UFC.

Adesanya has a record of 15-0 in MMA and has an impressive kickboxing record of 75-4.

"I was talking to him and he was like 'are your knuckles always like that?' And I'm like 'dude this isn't my first rodeo, I've been doing this for a long time'", said Adesanya.

"I was like 'you don't have to pace me, I'm ready for this, I'm ready to run this whole division'. And I could tell like it's different when I'm in front of someone – they can see me and feel my passion.

"So when I was talking to him he was like 'yes,' we both had dollars signs in our eyes, we knew what was up."

Adesanya is ranked sixth in the UFC middleweight division.

He says his next bout will be a historic moment in his MMA career if they manage to get it over the line.

"The next one I'd say, for the next part in the movie - it is going to be historic in my movie."

"When I make it, this part in the movie if it goes through, if the other guy says 'yeah' - it is going to be mint. I can't wait."

Ranked number one in the middleweight division is Cuban fighter Yoel Romero, with former American champion Luke Rockhold ranked second and Brazilian fighter Jacare Souza is ranked third.

Aussie middleweight champion Robert Whittaker is set to fight American Kelvin Gastelum in Melbourne on February 10.

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