Israel Adesanya says he is the No.1 pound-for-pound fighter on the planet – not Alex Volkanovski or Jon Jones: ‘I know that I’m the best’
Israel Adesanya says he’s the number 1 pound-for-pound fighter in the world – not Alex Volkanovski or Jon Jones: ‘I know I’m the best’
- Israel Adesanya says he is the number 1 fighter
- Heavyweight Jon Jones is currently ranked No. 1
- Adesanya meets Sean Strickland at UFC 293
As for UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya, he’s the pound-for-pound No. 1 fighter in the world — not Jon Jones or Alexander Volkanovski.
‘The Last Stylebender’ returns to action against controversial rival Sean Strickland at UFC 293 in Sydney with hopes of a sixth title defense of his crown.
Currently ranked as the 5th best fighter in the world by UFC rankings, Adesanya has proven herself as one of the best forwards to ever fight in the promotion.
Heavyweight champion Jon Jones currently occupies the No. 1 spot on the pound-for-pound list, with Australian featherweight kingpin Alex Volkanovski close behind at No. 2.
However, Adesanya says he doesn’t pay much attention to these rankings because they’re imprecise: he’s number 1.
UFC champion Israel Adesanya believes he is the number 1 pound-for-pound fighter in the world
Heavyweight champion Jon Jones is currently ranked as the best fighter
“I never check the rankings, I just scroll past them. I know I’m the best. Why would you comment on someone’s opinion of you? I’m the best,’ Adesanya said Stake.
“You have to be player one in your own life, people have to see themselves as player one.
“When it’s all said and done, they might still have me number 10 on the list, but I wouldn’t say that. Those who love me and appreciate my art, and the way I express myself through my art and in life, can enjoy the things I left behind.”
The pound-for-pound list is highly subjective indeed, but fight fans were quick to rave about Adesanya’s comments.
“Sorry, can’t forget Jones and Volk,” one fan wrote on Twitter.
“Loll what?” replied briefly.
“That’s ridiculous,” said a third.
Adesanya will try to make Strickland pay for his comments about him in the media when the pair meet in Sydney.
Australian featherweight kingpin Alex Volkanovski is currently number 2 on the list
Adesanya will try to make his next opponent Sean Strickland pay for his comments
“He’s an idiot,” Adesanya said MMAfighting.com
“I’m not going to lose to an idiot. He says he’s not going to lose to a guy who goes to cartoons or paints his nails.
“Well, I’m going to paint my nails for that fight and I’m going to knock him out with my painted nails.”
Adesanya continued, “I don’t like the way he behaves. Even his sparring footage shows up in my feed sometimes and I’m like, what the hell? Who does that? He’s a gym hero.
“He’s just an idiot and he’s not the kind of person I associate myself with, and he’s a fugazi too.”