Home » Latest » Boxing and MMA » UFC 263: Israel Adesanya Octagon Interview

UFC 263: Israel Adesanya Octagon Interview

3

InfoSearched 165 0 Boxing and MMA

8.4

SaveSavedRemoved 3

Israel Adesanya defends his middleweight crown with a clinical performance at UFC 263.

Following his successful title defense against Marvin Vettori on June 12, 2021, at the Gila River Arena in Glendale, Arizona, UFC Middleweight Champion Israel Adesanya sat down with Joe Rogan in the center of the Octagon. The champion secured a dominant unanimous decision, with all three judges awarding him every round for a 50–45 scorecard.

• Adesanya neutralized Marvin Vettori’s grappling threats throughout the five-round bout, utilizing precise leg kicks to maintain distance and control.
• The champion dedicated his win to his late teammate, Fau Vake, who passed away in May 2021 following an assault in Auckland.
• Adesanya issued a direct call-out to former champion Robert Whittaker, insisting their rematch take place in his “territory” of Auckland, New Zealand.

A Personal Dedication

The post-fight interview was defined by an emotional tribute to Fau Vake, a teammate of Adesanya’s who died in May 2021. Adesanya addressed the crowd and the broadcast team with visible grief, repeatedly stating, “Fau Vake, Fau Vake, Fau Vake, I love you, man.” He confirmed to Rogan that the entire performance was carried out in honor of his fallen training partner, stating, “This fight I dedicate to you, Fau.”

Fau Vake, Fau Vake, Fau Vake, I love you, man. This fight I dedicate to you, Fau.

The Competitive Tension

Despite the lopsided scorecards, Adesanya revealed that Vettori remained combative even after the final bell. According to the champion, Vettori claimed to have won the fight while they were still inside the Octagon. Adesanya dismissed the assertion during his interview, telling Rogan, “You can keep thinking that,” while emphasizing that he had effectively punished the challenger with consistent leg kicks for the duration of the fight.

The Whittaker Rematch

Adesanya used his time on the microphone to turn his attention toward his next objective: a rematch with former champion Robert Whittaker. Insisting on a venue change for the potential bout, Adesanya stated, “We need to run that back in Auckland, in my territory this time.” UFC President Dana White validated the champion’s focus, confirming that Adesanya had expressed interest in the Whittaker matchup in the days leading up to the event.

Adesanya is now pushing to secure a date in New Zealand, though he must first navigate the logistical hurdles required to host a UFC pay-per-view event at Auckland’s Spark Arena.