UFC ace Israel Adesanya backed to struggle with Khamzat Chimaev in future fight: ‘He’s not gonna win’

Israel Adesanya backed to struggle in Khamzat Chimaev fight in future he's not gonna win UFC

Former two-time undisputed middleweight champion, Israel Adesanya has been backed to struggle significantly with undefeated talent, Khamzat Chimaev in a future showdown – according to prior foe, Marvin Vettori, who claims the UFC star will likely lose to any top five contender in his Octagon return.

Adesanya, a former two-time middleweight champion under the promotion’s banner, has yet to return to competition since he headlined UFC 293 last September, setting an unwanted record in a unanimous decision loss to Sean Strickland, subsequently becoming the first fighter in promotional history to lose their championship belt twice in a calendar year.

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However, linked with another immediate charge at gold despite his loss to now-former titleholder, Strickland, City Kickboxing striker, Adesanya was offered a headliner at UFC 300 next month against new champion, Dricus du Plessis – a bout the South African ultimately admitted he turned down due to lingering injuries

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Sharing his thoughts on Adesanya’s expected comeback later this year, Vettori, a two-time foe of the former – who himself headlines UFC Vegas 90 against Brendan Allen, claimed the ex-champion would be beaten by Chimaev – as well as any other contender at 185 pounds worth their salt.

“Izzy (Israel Adesanya) will lose any fight,” Marvin Vettori told The Schmo during a recent interview. “If he comes back, he’s not going to win any fight, I will tell you this. In the top three or four, he’s not gonna win any fights. I don’t think he’s going to beat Khamzat (Chimaev), either. I don’t think so. He’s gonna get taken down, I think.”

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“He comes back, he’s gonna lose, I think,” Vettori explained. “They’re gonna tell me I’m a hater and sh*t, but it’s true – the game is evolving so fast. The grappling level is just evolving, getting higher and higher and I think he can’t hang. Taking a year off now, it’s a lot.” 

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Manadatory Credit: Zuffa LLC

Himself sidelined since last October, unbeaten challenger, Chimaev has been out of action since he landed a close, majority decision win over former undisputed welterweight kingpin, Kamaru Usman at UFC 294 in a short-notice clash.

Who wins in a future clash: Israel Adesanya or Khamzat Chimaev?