The latest exchange between rising star Sharaputdin Magomedov and former champion Israel Adesanya has set the middleweight division abuzz. After pulling off a spectacular double spinning back fist knockout victory over Armen Petrosyan at UFC 308, Magomedov seized his moment in the spotlight to make a bold statement. He called out the former champion in his post-fight speech.
Fresh off his highlight-reel finish, the undefeated Russian fighter declared himself the division’s premier striker. Magomedov, who competes with one eye due to a childhood accident, thus earning him the nickname ‘Pirate.’ Adesanya’s response to the callout was both swift and memorable, channeling two iconic pop culture moments in his YouTube video.
“Keep my name out your f*cking mouth… What the f*ck did I do? What he say f*ck me, for?”
The former champion borrowed Will Smith’s infamous Oscar ceremony outburst. Not content with just one reference, Israel Adesanya followed up with a bemused 50 Cent-inspired retort about Floyd Mayweather dissing him.
Sharaputdin Magomedov had claimed that their paths had previously crossed during their kickboxing days in China. However, Adesanya seems to have no recollection of such encounters. The timing of this callout is particularly intriguing. The Nigerian-born New Zealander finds himself in unfamiliar territory, having lost three of his last four fights. This fight would be a striking masterclass for the fans if the UFC decide to make it happen.
Kamaru Usman Asks Sharapudin Magomedov To Pump The Brakes On Israel Adesanya Callout
The UFC middleweight division has always been a shark tank of ambitious fighters. From Anderson Silva’s reign to Adesanya’s dynamic era, newcomers have consistently tried to fast-track their way to the top. The latest addition to this list is the undefeated Dagestani striker Magomedov, whose recent performance at UFC 308 turned quite a few heads.
Click on ‘Follow Us’ and get notified of the most viral MMA stories via Google! Follow Us
Fresh off his victory, Sharaputdin Magomedov called out former champion Israel Adesanya. This prompted former welterweight king Kamaru Usman to step in with some brotherly advice as he spoke on his ‘Pound 4 Pound’ podcast with Henry Cejudo.
“My man [Magomedov] threw two spinning backfists and got Petrosyan out of there. He had great footwork the whole fight… know at the end of the fight he called out Israel Adesanya. Slow your roll buddy, slow your roll.”
Henry Cejudo chimed in with his technical analysis, suggesting that Adesanya’s foundational kicks would be too much for “The Bullet‘ to handle. Meanwhile, Adesanya himself seemed more amused than annoyed by the callout, responding with memes quoting Will Smith and 50 Cent!
Also Read: Israel Adesanya Opens Up About His Huge Financial Struggles After Losing To Alex Pereira
