Sep 9, 2023; Sydney, NSW, AUSTRALIA; Israel Adesanya reacts during his fight with Sean Strickland (not pictured) in UFC 293 at Qudos Bank Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jasmin Frank-USA TODAY Sports

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UFC Foes to Training Partners: Israel Adesanya trains with former Middleweight rival ahead of the Nassourdine Imavov fight!

Israel Adesanya reunites with a past rival, preparing alongside him for the looming battle against Nassourdine Imavov!

Sep 9, 2023; Sydney, NSW, AUSTRALIA; Israel Adesanya reacts during his fight with Sean Strickland (not pictured) in UFC 293 at Qudos Bank Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jasmin Frank-USA TODAY Sports

Rivalries often turn into unexpected friendships in the MMA world. Remember when Israel Adesanya and Robert Whittaker first met in the octagon back in 2019 at UFC 243? It was an explosive affair that ended with Adesanya claiming the UFC middleweight crown through a spectacular second-round knockout.

They ran it back in 2022, where Adesanya again emerged victorious, though this time via a hard-fought decision. Now, in a fascinating turn of events that shows the true spirit of martial arts, these former foes have joined forces!

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Israel Adesanya spars with Robert Whittaker aka Bobby Knuckles!

As Adesanya gears up for his crucial comeback fight against Nassourdine Imavov at UFC Abu Dhabi on February 1st, he’s made an intriguing choice for his training partner. The Nigerian-Kiwi striker, who’s looking to bounce back from two tough losses, has brought Robert Whittaker into his camp.

New year, new friends 😊 pic.twitter.com/UC1esTzLqx
— Israel Adesanya (@stylebender) January 12, 2025

It’s quite the plot twist. They shared training photos and a caption that simply reads, “New year, new friends.” This collaboration comes at a critical time for Adesanya, who’s facing a must-win situation to avoid his first-ever three-fight losing streak.The timing of this unlikely partnership really couldn’t be better for Adesanya.

His recent setbacks: a submission loss to Dricus du Plessis and that shocking upset against Sean Strickland – have shown some gaps in his game that Whittaker might help fill. The former champ’s wrestling and grappling expertise could prove invaluable against someone like Imavov.

Robert Whittaker himself has been on the sidelines since October, recovering from a nasty facial injury, courtesy of Khamzat Chimaev. But rather than sitting idle, he has chosen to help the very man who defeated him twice. There’s something beautifully ironic about that.

These fighters can go from trying to knock each other out to helping each other improve, all in the name of martial arts growth!

(Image Credit: Jasmin Frank – Imagn Images)

Israel Adesanya

Nassourdine Imavov

Robert Whittaker

UFC

UFC Fight Night

Zaid Quraishi

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I am a dedicated MMA and Boxing content writer at The Playoffs. I was instantly hooked on MMA after watching the fight between Lyoto Machida vs. Gegard Mousasi back in 2014, and since then, i have been an avid writer with a deep love for the sport and its techniques, providing readers with a thorough understanding of the sport. My favorite aspect of working at The Playoffs is the creative freedom it provides. The diverse range of topics, from listicles and SEO to news articles, keeps me engaged and motivates me to continuously improve my skills! I aim to capture the excitement of the combat sports world in my writing, acting as the middleman between fighters and their die-hard fans. It is kind of like a referee, but with words!