Israel Adesanya says he’s sticking by his word and won’t fight Kamaru Usman.<\/p>\n
Adesanya and Usman have both said in the past they won’t fight another as they want as many African champions in the UFC as possible. However, just recently, Usman’s manager, Ali Abdelaziz said he wants to see the fight happen<\/a>.<\/p>\n “I want him to beat Leon Edwards and then I want him to go fight Israel Adesanya for the middleweight title,” Abdelaziz said. \u201cListen, these guys, they\u2019re cool but I don\u2019t think they\u2019re best friends. If there is enough money for both of them to fight, they will fight in the parking lot. I know how people work. This has nothing to do with loyalty, because these guys, it\u2019s not like they\u2019re training partners or brothers.<\/p>\n “They\u2019re African brothers and that holds a lot of value… but at the end of the day, I\u2019m Kamaru Usman\u2019s team all the way,” Abdelaziz continued about Adesanya-Usman. “I want to see Kamaru Usman, before the end of the road, have two titles. I\u2019m selfish, I\u2019m greedy, and I think Kamaru deserves it… I think there is enough money for these two guys that (they) would fight. I want to see this fight now. I think fans want it, I want it. I think these two men need to call each other.”<\/p>\n Now, ahead of Israel Adesanya’s middleweight title defense<\/a> against Robert Whittaker<\/a> at UFC 271, “The Last Stylebender” made it clear he won’t face Usman.<\/p>\n Adesanya on why an Usman bout doesn't interest him: "It's bigger than money, it's just about legacy, I'm still looking to capture that image of me, Kamaru and Francis as the three kings, because we haven't done that yet together"<\/p>\n Full interview: https:\/\/t.co\/2VYvVJ4Y0M<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/gmjymi1Jjy<\/a><\/p>\n — Aaron Bronsteter (@aaronbronsteter) February 9, 2022<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n