Israel Adesanya and Robert Whittaker once shared a heated rivalry over the years. However, the two have transitioned from fierce competitors to training partners. Their recent sparring session at City Kickboxing, the home of ‘The Last Stylebender,’ has taken the MMA world by surprise. Following the session, Adesanya shared a photo on social media that quickly caught the attention of fans.
Whittaker’s issues with Adesanya stemmed from a competitive rivalry, not deep animosity. The two fought twice in the UFC, with Adesanya claiming the middleweight title by defeating Whittaker in 2019 and then winning again in their rematch. After their rivalry, the two middleweight stars came together and shared a photo that’s now taking over the internet.
Adesanya posted a picture on X with Whittaker, captioning it, “Did we just become best friends?!” One fan responded, saying, “Warms my damn heart.”
Warms my damn heart 🥹 pic.twitter.com/vgdnAwjwLh
— AFeldmanMMA (@afeldMMA) January 15, 2025
One fan reacted, calling the meetup “wholesome” and urging Adesanya to do the same with Alex Pereira.
Very wholesome
— YJ (@thebankrolldon) January 15, 2025
Now you owe us one with Alex
A fan reacted, calling the meetup a moment for “UFC besties.”
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Adesanya and Whitaker…UFC besties pic.twitter.com/sUxRwDKQJc
— Slowpoke Rodriguez (Chubby Boxer) (@ChubbyTrevno) January 15, 2025
One fan mentioned they were happy to see both middleweight stars together.
This makes me happy.
— Christian (@ChrisDevia13) January 15, 2025
Goattaker and Izzy 🔥🔥
— MexMartialArts🇲🇽 (@MexMartialArts) January 15, 2025
Two of the greatest middleweights of all time 🇳🇿🇦🇺🤝
— Boots (@BootsUTD) January 15, 2025
This is going to be amazing to watch when it drops
— @Saichotic (@Saichoticc) January 15, 2025
Israel Adesanya Reveals Training Secrets For UFC Saudi Arabia Showdown With Nasrudine Immov
Adesanya is facing a tough period in the UFC after losing his middleweight title to Sean Strickland and then suffering another defeat to Dricus Du Plessis. Now, he’s preparing for his first non-title fight in six years against Nasrudine Imavov at UFC Saudi Arabia. Imavov, who has won three straight, could earn a title shot with a victory over Adesanya. While Adesanya focuses on the upcoming fight, he’s also determined to reclaim his title. In a recent YouTube video, he shared his intense training routine:
“Some MMA work, then wrestling for about an hour and a half, and then strength training—that’s my day.”
Adesanya faces a tough challenge in Saudi Arabia. If he wants another title shot, he’ll likely need two or three more wins. Fans are excited to see the former middleweight champion make his way back to the top and chase the belt again.
Also Read: First Look At Custom Shorts Of Islam Makhachev And Merab Dvalishvili Ahead Of UFC 311
