Israel Adesanya has scoffed at Tyron Woodley’s desire to move up a weight class and fight him.
On a recent Instagram live session, former UFC welterweight champion Woodley (19-4-1 MMA, 9-3-1 UFC) claimed that, after a few more fights at 170 pounds, he’d like to move up to middleweight and go straight for Adesanya (19-0 MMA, 8-0 UFC).
Woodley also mentioned that he doesn’t think Adesanya is as good as everyone says and suggested he spotted some potential flaws in his game during fights against Yoel Romero and Kelvin Gastelum, an opponent Woodley said he “walked through.”
Adesanya noted Woodley’s comments, then took to Twitter in response, referring to “The Chosen One’s” loss to fellow Nigerian-born champion Kamaru Usman, who dethroned Woodley in a one-sided decision.
Lol see me see trouble…whala just dey find me anyhow. @TWooodley can’t even deal with one Nigerian Nightmare @USMAN84kg when he was at 30%. Oboy sit down before I lash your nyash well well
Adesanya is coming off a unanimous decision win over Yoel Romero at UFC 248 and is set to take on Paulo Costa in his next title defense, with the Brazilian now fully recovered from bicep surgery.
Woodley, meanwhile, hasn’t competed since losing his title to Usman in March 2019. His scheduled return, against English contender Leon Edwards at UFC on ESPN+ 29 in London, was scrapped when the COVID-19 pandemic rendered the event untenable.
