After demolishing Paulo Costa to defend his UFC middleweight title in September 2020, Israel Adesanya turned his attention to Jared Cannonier.
It was a simple call out.
"He's the one I want to fight next."
It wasn't his next fight, but now he will get his wish. The Herald can confirm Adesanya will put his title on the line against the hard-hitting American at UFC 276 on July 3, headlining one of the biggest cards on the UFC calendar.
Since the Costa fight, Adesanya had an unsuccessful bid to take the light heavyweight crown against then-champion Jan Blachowicz, before taking rematches against Marvin Vettori and Robert Whittaker back at middleweight – winning both by unanimous decision.
Adesanya has stressed his desire for new blood challenging his throne in recent years, and in Cannonier he gets just that.