Israel Adesanya: 5 Fighters Who Could Challenge The Last Stylebender for Middleweight Title Next

• Israel Adesanya knocked out Alex Pereira in the main event of UFC 287
• Dricus du Plessis and Adesanya have engaged in a war of words recently
• Jan Blachowicz is willing to drop down a division to fight Adesanya again

Israel Adesanya faces no shortage of challengers after winning back the UFC Middleweight title.

The Nigerian-born Kiwi defeated Alex Pereira for the title in the main event of UFC 287.

With the title now back in his grasp, Adesanya will be looking to the future and his next challenger.

Sports Brief takes a look at the five challengers who could take on The Last Stylebender next.

Alex Pereira

It’s a fight that not many will want to see again, but it does make sense.

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UFC

Adesanya and Pereira have faced each other in back-to-back fights and are tied at one win each. The duo could look to settle their rivalry with one last fight for the title and bragging rights in their three-fight series.

Pereira’s only loss in the UFC came at the hands of The Last Stylebender, while Adesanya’s only loss at middleweight came at the hands of Poatan.

Dricus du Plessis

The South African fighter has been engaged in a war of words with the champion, and both have expressed interest in fighting each other.

Tensions rose between the two when du Plessis made a comment about being more African. Adesanya warned the South African fighter to choose his words wisely, MMA Mania reported but du Plessis has since fired back via social media.

Adesanya did say he wants du Plessis to do more before he earns a title shot, so the fight may not take place just yet.

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UFC

Marvin Vettori

The Italian fighter has taken on Adesanya twice before, losing on both occasions. Despite his poor record against The Last Stylbender, Vettori isn’t backing away from another crack.

Vettori is the third-ranked middleweight and took to social media after Adesanya’s victory to congratulate him and tease a potential fight in the future.

Khamzat Chimaev

The Swedish mixed martial artist is undefeated in his professional career so far and has torn up the welterweight rankings.

Chimaev is the number-three ranked welterweight but is no stranger to competing in the middleweight division either.

Adesanya and Chimaev have traded words in the past, with the Swedish star saying he would 'take off his head' if they ever were to fight, The Mirror reported.

Jan Blachowicz

The Polish star became the first person to beat Adesanya in the UFC, and he has no problems doing it again.

Blachowicz was the UFC Light Heavyweight Champion when he took on The Last Stylebender and is now willing to fight Adesanya for his middleweight title.

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Blachowicz laid down the challenge after Adesanya defeated Pereira in their rematch.

Tensions soar between African middleweights

Du Plessis and Adesanya are on a collision course for a UFC Middleweight title match, Sports Brief has reported.

Tensions between the fighters has escalated in recent days since Adesanya beat Pereira for the middleweight title.

Adesanya used his post-match press conference to fire a warning at the South African, and du Plessis has responded.