NZ Herald
  • Home
  • Latest news
  • Herald NOW
  • Video
  • New Zealand
  • Sport
  • World
  • Business
  • Entertainment
  • Podcasts
  • Quizzes
  • Opinion
  • Lifestyle
  • Travel
  • Viva
  • Weather

Subscriptions

  • Herald Premium
  • Viva Premium
  • The Listener
  • BusinessDesk

Sections

  • Latest news
  • New Zealand
    • All New Zealand
    • Crime
    • Politics
    • Education
    • Open Justice
    • Scam Update
  • Herald NOW
  • On The Up
  • World
    • All World
    • Australia
    • Asia
    • UK
    • United States
    • Middle East
    • Europe
    • Pacific
  • Business
    • All Business
    • MarketsSharesCurrencyCommoditiesStock TakesCrypto
    • Markets with Madison
    • Media Insider
    • Business analysis
    • Personal financeKiwiSaverInterest ratesTaxInvestment
    • EconomyInflationGDPOfficial cash rateEmployment
    • Small business
    • Business reportsMood of the BoardroomProject AucklandSustainable business and financeCapital markets reportAgribusiness reportInfrastructure reportDynamic business
    • Deloitte Top 200 Awards
    • CompaniesAged CareAgribusinessAirlinesBanking and financeConstructionEnergyFreight and logisticsHealthcareManufacturingMedia and MarketingRetailTelecommunicationsTourism
  • Opinion
    • All Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Editorials
    • Business analysis
    • Premium opinion
    • Letters to the editor
  • Politics
  • Sport
    • All Sport
    • OlympicsParalympics
    • RugbySuper RugbyNPCAll BlacksBlack FernsRugby sevensSchool rugby
    • CricketBlack CapsWhite Ferns
    • Racing
    • NetballSilver Ferns
    • LeagueWarriorsNRL
    • FootballWellington PhoenixAuckland FCAll WhitesFootball FernsEnglish Premier League
    • GolfNZ Open
    • MotorsportFormula 1
    • Boxing
    • UFC
    • BasketballNBABreakersTall BlacksTall Ferns
    • Tennis
    • Cycling
    • Athletics
    • SailingAmerica's CupSailGP
    • Rowing
  • Lifestyle
    • All Lifestyle
    • Viva - Food, fashion & beauty
    • Society Insider
    • Royals
    • Sex & relationships
    • Food & drinkRecipesRecipe collectionsRestaurant reviewsRestaurant bookings
    • Health & wellbeing
    • Fashion & beauty
    • Pets & animals
    • The Selection - Shop the trendsShop fashionShop beautyShop entertainmentShop giftsShop home & living
    • Milford's Investing Place
  • Entertainment
    • All Entertainment
    • TV
    • MoviesMovie reviews
    • MusicMusic reviews
    • BooksBook reviews
    • Culture
    • ReviewsBook reviewsMovie reviewsMusic reviewsRestaurant reviews
  • Travel
    • All Travel
    • News
    • New ZealandNorthlandAucklandWellingtonCanterburyOtago / QueenstownNelson-TasmanBest NZ beaches
    • International travelAustraliaPacific IslandsEuropeUKUSAAfricaAsia
    • Rail holidays
    • Cruise holidays
    • Ski holidays
    • Luxury travel
    • Adventure travel
  • Kāhu Māori news
  • Environment
    • All Environment
    • Our Green Future
  • Talanoa Pacific news
  • Property
    • All Property
    • Property Insider
    • Interest rates tracker
    • Residential property listings
    • Commercial property listings
  • Health
  • Technology
    • All Technology
    • AI
    • Social media
  • Rural
    • All Rural
    • Dairy farming
    • Sheep & beef farming
    • Horticulture
    • Animal health
    • Rural business
    • Rural life
    • Rural technology
    • Opinion
    • Audio & podcasts
  • Weather forecasts
    • All Weather forecasts
    • Kaitaia
    • Whangārei
    • Dargaville
    • Auckland
    • Thames
    • Tauranga
    • Hamilton
    • Whakatāne
    • Rotorua
    • Tokoroa
    • Te Kuiti
    • Taumaranui
    • Taupō
    • Gisborne
    • New Plymouth
    • Napier
    • Hastings
    • Dannevirke
    • Whanganui
    • Palmerston North
    • Levin
    • Paraparaumu
    • Masterton
    • Wellington
    • Motueka
    • Nelson
    • Blenheim
    • Westport
    • Reefton
    • Kaikōura
    • Greymouth
    • Hokitika
    • Christchurch
    • Ashburton
    • Timaru
    • Wānaka
    • Oamaru
    • Queenstown
    • Dunedin
    • Gore
    • Invercargill
  • Meet the journalists
  • Promotions & competitions
  • OneRoof property listings
  • Driven car news

Puzzles & Quizzes

  • Puzzles
    • All Puzzles
    • Sudoku
    • Code Cracker
    • Crosswords
    • Cryptic crossword
    • Wordsearch
  • Quizzes
    • All Quizzes
    • Morning quiz
    • Afternoon quiz
    • Sports quiz

Regions

  • Northland
    • All Northland
    • Far North
    • Kaitaia
    • Kerikeri
    • Kaikohe
    • Bay of Islands
    • Whangarei
    • Dargaville
    • Kaipara
    • Mangawhai
  • Auckland
  • Waikato
    • All Waikato
    • Hamilton
    • Coromandel & Hauraki
    • Matamata & Piako
    • Cambridge
    • Te Awamutu
    • Tokoroa & South Waikato
    • Taupō & Tūrangi
  • Bay of Plenty
    • All Bay of Plenty
    • Katikati
    • Tauranga
    • Mount Maunganui
    • Pāpāmoa
    • Te Puke
    • Whakatāne
  • Rotorua
  • Hawke's Bay
    • All Hawke's Bay
    • Napier
    • Hastings
    • Havelock North
    • Central Hawke's Bay
    • Wairoa
  • Taranaki
    • All Taranaki
    • Stratford
    • New Plymouth
    • Hāwera
  • Manawatū - Whanganui
    • All Manawatū - Whanganui
    • Whanganui
    • Palmerston North
    • Manawatū
    • Tararua
    • Horowhenua
  • Wellington
    • All Wellington
    • Kapiti
    • Wairarapa
    • Upper Hutt
    • Lower Hutt
  • Nelson & Tasman
    • All Nelson & Tasman
    • Motueka
    • Nelson
    • Tasman
  • Marlborough
  • West Coast
  • Canterbury
    • All Canterbury
    • Kaikōura
    • Christchurch
    • Ashburton
    • Timaru
  • Otago
    • All Otago
    • Oamaru
    • Dunedin
    • Balclutha
    • Alexandra
    • Queenstown
    • Wanaka
  • Southland
    • All Southland
    • Invercargill
    • Gore
    • Stewart Island
  • Gisborne

Media

  • Video
    • All Video
    • NZ news video
    • Herald NOW
    • Business news video
    • Politics news video
    • Sport video
    • World news video
    • Lifestyle video
    • Entertainment video
    • Travel video
    • Markets with Madison
    • Kea Kids news
  • Podcasts
    • All Podcasts
    • The Front Page
    • On the Tiles
    • Ask me Anything
    • The Little Things
  • Cartoons
  • Photo galleries
  • Today's Paper - E-editions
  • Photo sales
  • Classifieds

NZME Network

  • Advertise with NZME
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • BusinessDesk
  • Newstalk ZB
  • Sunlive
  • ZM
  • The Hits
  • Coast
  • Radio Hauraki
  • The Alternative Commentary Collective
  • Gold
  • Flava
  • iHeart Radio
  • Hokonui
  • Radio Wanaka
  • iHeartCountry New Zealand
  • Restaurant Hub
  • NZME Events

SubscribeSign In
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Home / Sport / UFC

UFC 271: Israel Adesanya looking to better first performance in rematch against Robert Whittaker

NZ Herald
4 Feb, 2022 11:30 PM3 mins to read

Subscribe to listen

Access to Herald Premium articles require a Premium subscription. Subscribe now to listen.
Already a subscriber?  Sign in here

Listening to articles is free for open-access content—explore other articles or learn more about text-to-speech.
‌
Save

    Share this article

Israel Adesanya stopped Robert Whittaker in the second round when they met in 2019. Photo / Getty Images
Israel Adesanya stopped Robert Whittaker in the second round when they met in 2019. Photo / Getty Images

Israel Adesanya stopped Robert Whittaker in the second round when they met in 2019. Photo / Getty Images

Israel Adesanya has signalled his intentions for his upcoming UFC title defence against Robert Whittaker, being motivated by the challenge of a more spectacular finish.

Adesanya claimed the undisputed UFC middleweight championship from Whittaker in Melbourne in 2019, knocking Whittaker out toward the end of the second round. It was Whittaker's first loss in the middleweight division, and remains his only loss in 12 bouts in the weight class.

For Adesanya, their meeting at UFC 271 on February 13 (NZ time) is his second straight rematch, after beating Marvin Vettori for a second time last June. However, speaking to The Sun, Adesanya said there was no shortage of motivation for the fight despite having already stopped Whittaker in impressive fashion.

"It's actually made me more motivated to do it again and do it more decisively, if that's even possible. Which it is, I believe so," Adesanya said.

"That's what's my motivation for this fight, that's what got me up for this fight - to do it again in a more devastating fashion."

All Access. All in one subscription. From $2 per week
Subscribe now

All Access Weekly

From $2 per week
Pay just
$15.75
$2
per week ongoing
Subscribe now
BEST VALUE

All Access Annual

Pay just
$449
$49
per year ongoing
Subscribe now
Learn more
30
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Following the loss, Whittaker has bounced back in a big way, derailing three top contenders to earn another shot at the belt, while Adesanya has thrice defended the title.

In the lead up to the fight, Whittaker has willingly addressed that he let Adesanya get into his head before their first encounter and his ego got in the way of his performance.

Adesanya had noted that Whittaker was acting out of character leading into their meeting, and has since been vindicated by Whittaker's admissions.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

"It was his ego, but I called it from (before) the fight," Adesanya told the Sun.

"I said, 'He's acting out of character.' And I said also, 'He's not being himself.' And people were like, 'Oh, he's such a good guy. He's such a good' (this and that). I'm like, 'He's a d***head. You guys just don't see it.'

"And now he's admitted that it was his ego that got the best of him. And I'm like, 'Well I told you so.' You should've listened to me; listen to your dad."

Whittaker said after the bout that it was the best he's ever felt heading into a fight, but the performance didn't match. Since then, he has looked at his best in three victories in which he was largely untroubled by some of the division's best.

For Adesanya, the prospect of Whittaker coming in improved from their first bout only makes the prospect more enticing.

"He said right after the fight, 'That's the best I've ever felt.' I remember that, I do not forget that," Adesanya said.

"So that was the best he's ever felt? Bet. If he can get better, I'm sure he's got better, bring the best. And I'll beat him again."

Save

    Share this article

Latest from UFC

UFC

'It is what it is': Blood Diamond on UFC exit and why he fights on

13 Jun 02:00 AM
UFC

On The Up: Kiwi duo get shot at UFC contracts

22 May 12:00 AM
UFC

Kiwi Kara-France confirmed for UFC title shot

14 May 05:09 AM

The woman behind NZ’s first PAK’nSAVE

sponsored
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Recommended for you
Waihī house fire: Probe into cause of man's death
Bay of Plenty Times

Waihī house fire: Probe into cause of man's death

16 Jun 06:09 AM
‘Rare opportunity’: Wellington’s floating boat cafe up for sale
New Zealand

‘Rare opportunity’: Wellington’s floating boat cafe up for sale

16 Jun 06:01 AM
Hearty mushrooms and parmesan puffs: A lunch you'll love
Viva - Food & Drink

Hearty mushrooms and parmesan puffs: A lunch you'll love

16 Jun 06:00 AM
'I’m gonna see you burn at the stake': Paramedic bit partner on the nose, then strangled her
New Zealand

'I’m gonna see you burn at the stake': Paramedic bit partner on the nose, then strangled her

16 Jun 06:00 AM
Why Kevin Costner says he'll never stop working
Entertainment

Why Kevin Costner says he'll never stop working

16 Jun 05:33 AM

Latest from UFC

'It is what it is': Blood Diamond on UFC exit and why he fights on

'It is what it is': Blood Diamond on UFC exit and why he fights on

13 Jun 02:00 AM

'I’ve done a lot for myself, but I’m doing it for someone else now.'

On The Up: Kiwi duo get shot at UFC contracts

On The Up: Kiwi duo get shot at UFC contracts

22 May 12:00 AM
Kiwi Kara-France confirmed for UFC title shot

Kiwi Kara-France confirmed for UFC title shot

14 May 05:09 AM
'I thought he was gone': Navajo Stirling continues UFC rise with win

'I thought he was gone': Navajo Stirling continues UFC rise with win

11 May 01:21 AM
How one volunteer makes people feel seen
sponsored

How one volunteer makes people feel seen

NZ Herald
  • About NZ Herald
  • Meet the journalists
  • Newsletters
  • Classifieds
  • Help & support
  • Contact us
  • House rules
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of use
  • Competition terms & conditions
  • Our use of AI
Subscriber Services
  • NZ Herald e-editions
  • Daily puzzles & quizzes
  • Manage your digital subscription
  • Manage your print subscription
  • Subscribe to the NZ Herald newspaper
  • Subscribe to Herald Premium
  • Gift a subscription
  • Subscriber FAQs
  • Subscription terms & conditions
  • Promotions and subscriber benefits
NZME Network
  • The New Zealand Herald
  • The Northland Age
  • The Northern Advocate
  • Waikato Herald
  • Bay of Plenty Times
  • Rotorua Daily Post
  • Hawke's Bay Today
  • Whanganui Chronicle
  • Viva
  • NZ Listener
  • Newstalk ZB
  • BusinessDesk
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • iHeart Radio
  • Restaurant Hub
NZME
  • About NZME
  • NZME careers
  • Advertise with NZME
  • Digital self-service advertising
  • Book your classified ad
  • Photo sales
  • NZME Events
  • © Copyright 2025 NZME Publishing Limited
All Access. All in one subscription. From $2 per week
Subscribe now

All Access Weekly

From $2 per week
Pay just
$15.75
$2
per week ongoing
Subscribe now
BEST VALUE

All Access Annual

Pay just
$449
$49
per year ongoing
Subscribe now
Learn more
30
TOP
search by queryly Advanced Search