The Ultimate Fighting Championship on Saturday heads to Melbourne, Australia, where Robert Whittaker and Israel Adesanya will square off to unify the middleweight championship in the UFC 243 main event. Stakes are high across the board.
WHO HAS THE MOST TO GAIN?
Robert Whittaker: Despite being the middleweight division’s reigning champion, it almost feels as if Whittaker is being overlooked going into this title unification bout. Consider his inactivity inside the Octagon: He has fought just twice in the last 20 months, while Adesanya has made seven appearances. Still, Whittaker has the chance to take all the shine from Adesanya in this fight and remind fans where he stands in the sport’s pecking order. Expect “Bobby Knuckles” to come out as his usual composed self and put on the type of performance that earned him the belt in the first place. Whittaker may not be as much of a talker as his opponent, but back-to-back wars with Yoel Romero have proven the Aussie is ready for all comers when the lights are shining their brightest.
Dan Hooker: Since moving to the lightweight division, Hooker has been consistently lethal, going 5-1 with five finishes. Following a loss to Edson Barboza, Hooker has rebounded nicely with a first-round stoppage of James Vick, but “The Hangman” has a real chance at establishing himself as one of the division’s elite if he can leave the cage against Al Iaquinta with yet another finish. Iaquinta is an impressive striker in his own right, but diversity is where Hooker will butter his bread in this pairing. If he can vary his striking attack and keep his opponent guessing over the entirety of the fight, he has a chance to become the event’s breakout contender.
Dhiego Lima: It would be putting it lightly to say that Lima’s UFC career has been rocky thus far. He suffered stoppage defeats in two different “Ultimate Fighter” finales and has put up more losses than wins inside the Octagon, but it seems like Lima has finally begun to find his footing after posting back-to-back victories. If he can post a third straight win at the expense of Luke Jumeau, he will be in prime position to establish some staying power inside a shark tank of a welterweight division. Lima is a smooth and technical striker, and he would be best served looking to find a rhythm and establish his jab early. If he can get his opponent fighting at his pace and not the other way around, then Lima stands a much greater chance at victory.
WHO HAS THE MOST TO LOSE?
Israel Adesanya: The buildup to UFC 243 has felt like The Adesanya Show. The interim middleweight champion has been in his element, and going into this title unification bout, he has become the talk of the sport. Between promos and press, the identity of the favorite has become quite clear, which puts “The Last Stylebender” in a bit of an awkward position as he looks to live up to the massive expectations both the UFC and fans have put on him. While the pressure does not seem to bother Adesanya, it will be interesting to see the Kiwi striker’s demeanor in the cage once the lights dim. Having backed himself into a corner with his pre-fight antics, the time has come for Adesanya to put up or shut up in what is without question the biggest fight of his MMA career.
Al Iaquinta: Having been a mainstay in the lightweight division’s Top 15 for years, it feels as though Iaquinta needs a statement win if he hopes to remain among the elite. Coming in 1-2 in his last three bouts, “Raging Al” has had a rough time getting going of late, and that will be key if he wants to come out on top against Hooker. Typically, Iaquinta takes his time, looking to establish his pin-point accurate jab and keep his opponent on the outside of his punches. Expect him to capitalize on his opponent’s aggression and tee off early and often with his stellar boxing combinations. This fight is important for Iaquinta’s divisional relevance. It is no secret that his standing with the company has been shaky at times, and if he finds himself on the outside looking in, he may find it quite difficult to get this sort of opportunity again.
Tai Tuivasa: In the same vein as his mentor Mark Hunt, Tuivasa comes into each bout with the intention of knocking his counterpart’s head into the fifth row with every punch thrown. Unfortunately for “Bam Bam,” that aggression has worked against him in back-to-back losses -- the first two of his career. In his confrontation with Sergey Spivak, Tuivasa would be wise to keep his composure while looking for his kill shots instead of speeding through his gas tank from the start. As he goes through the growing pains of being a young heavyweight contender, this bout will be indicative of the growth he has undergone. It will be interesting to see what he has learned after experiencing adversity for the first time and how he approaches this bounce-back fight.