Morning Report: Israel Adesanya trains with Robert Whittaker to celebrate 'new year, new friends'

01/13/2025 08:00 AM

Israel Adesanya and Robert Whittaker. Former UFC champions. Old rivals. Now allies?

That's how Adesanya framed their relationship in a recent social media post, in which he shared photos and video of himself training with Whittaker, who previously battled Adesanya in a pair of title fights.

Check out the post below, which Adesanya captioned, "New year, new friends."

The New Zealand representatives (Whittaker was born and raised there and also reps Australia, while Nigerian native Adesanya has long called the country home) look to be in great spirits as they kick off their 2025 campaigns, a far cry from their competitive past.

Adesanya became undisputed UFC middleweight champion in 2019 when he defeated Whittaker via a stunning second-round knockout in Melbourne. He later won a unanimous decision over Whittaker in their rematch at UFC 271 in 2022 to retain the title.

Both are in need of a win after losing their most recent fights. Adesanya failed to become a champion for the third time when he was submitted by Dricus du Plessis this past August, while Whittaker suffered a brutal submission loss of his own when he ran into Khamzat Chimaev this past October. Prior that loss, Whittaker had won his first two fights of 2024.

Adesanya already has his next assignment lined up as he headlines UFC Saudi Arabia on Feb. 1 opposite rising middleweight contender Nassourdine Imavov. Whittaker also aims to get back on track this year after the loss to Chimaev left him with an injured jaw.

TOP STORIES

Revenge. Mackenzie Dern got one back against Amanda Ribas with a slick submission in the UFC Vegas 101 main event.

Patience. With back-to-back wins, Dern is taking her time even with the chance of a strawweight title shot looming.

No. 1 bullshit? Khabib Nurmagomedov had to exit a plane after a dispute with a flight attendant and later shared his version of the story.

Copacetic. Merab Dvalishvili says his relationship with boss Dana White is just fine ahead of UFC 311.

Closer. Alex Pereira and Magomed Ankalaev are buzzing about a potential light heavyweight title clash.

Out. The upstart GFL promotion has lost one of its backers.

KOTY... so far.In case you missed it, Cesar Almeida absolutely flattened Abdul Razak Alhassan.

VIDEO STEW

UFC Vegas 101 post-fight show.

Hear from Saturday's standouts.

Mike Heck chats with the champ.

UFC 311 co-main prep.

Dan and Veronica Hardy look ahead to UFC 311's main card.

A day in the life of Tom Aspinall.

Wish Angela Hill a happy birthday with an episode of 2Straws.

FLAVOR IN YOUR EAR

On To the Next One. Is there a path to the strawweight title for Mackenzie Dern? The Best Friends Mike Heck and Alexander K. Lee pick future matchups for UFC Vegas 101's big winners.

SOCIAL MEDIA BOUILLABAISSE

Winter wonderland.

You definitely won't!

Neat!

How are your New Year's Resolutions going?

Buffalo Billy Q.

The Zerotaker.

FIGHT ANNOUNCEMENTS

Leon Edwards (22-4, 1 NC) vs. Jack Della Maddalena (17-2); UFC London, March 22

Steve Erceg (12-3) vs. Asu Almabayev (21-2); UFC Vegas 103, March 1

Charles Johnson (17-6) vs. Ramazan Temirov (18-3); UFC Vegas 103, March 1

Esteban Ribovics (14-1) vs. Nasrat Haqparast (17-5); UFC Vegas 103, March 1

FINAL THOUGHTS

Dana White and co. are officially back and UFC Vegas 101 felt like the perfect appetizer for this weekend's UFC 311 extravaganza. We saw some prospects shine, we saw some entertaining fights produced by age-appropriate matchmaking, and we saw at least one knockout that's going to be in the KO of the Year running come December.

Now, it's time for the first UFC pay-per-view of 2025, which could potentially give us two new champions and set up several high-profile fighters for a massive campaign.

Buckle up!

EXIT POLL

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