Conor McGregor’s coach believes Israel Adesanya possesses the same “fast brain” that propelled his megastar charge to two UFC belts. The Irishman’s coach predicts the middleweight king will knock Robert Whittaker out cold once more on Sunday week.
John Kavanagh, one of the most renowned voices in combat sports, believes Adesanya will finish Whittaker in their highly anticipated UFC 271 rematch on February 13 in Houston, Texas (AEST).
The US blockbuster is the first time the trans-Tasman rivals have met since Adesanya KO’d Australia’s first UFC champion. Adesanya captured gold in front of over 60,000 fans in Melbourne in 2019.
While Kavanagh is now in Australia promoting Alta, a new in-gym Mixed Martial Arts training programme, he expects Whittaker to win by KO.
“is like Neo in the Matrix, seeing everything move slowly,” Kavanagh added.
“And I hate saying it,” McGregor’s coach said of the knockout prediction.
“But gun to my head, you force me to choose, I think Israel gets it done within the time limit.”
When asked why Adesanya would be so convincing in this fight, Kavanagh called the 32-year-old champ a “range master.”
“He’s a fighter who just seems to be able to stay on the edge of range,” the coach explained.
“Some guys, they just have an ability to stand where your punch, it bends a hair on their nose — that’s as far as you can reach.
“But then they take a half-step in and crack you.
Conor McGregor’s coach compares Israel Adesanya to the Irishman
“It’s like that great scene from when Conor fought Eddie Alveraz for the lightweight belt (at UFC 205).
“If you watch the slow motion replay at one point, you can see Conor moves his head back a fraction and Eddie’s punch literally just moves his nose.
“Then Conor shifts into that position where he can light him up.
“You don’t see a whole lot of guys who have that ability.
“And I know in Conor’s case, he’s been measured by neurologists and has what they call a fast brain. He’s got the unusual ability of having a certain level of hand-eye coordination, an understanding of distance and range.
“And I believe Israel is of the same ilk.
“He’s in the Matrix, seeing things slower than the rest of us do.”
Coach Kavanagh travelled to Australia to promote Alta, a unique 20-week MMA training programme taught in-gym. It is due to formally launch across Australia later this month. With the launch, Conor McGregor is expected to return to the Octagon in July.
Being severely beaten as a teen, Kavanagh turned to MMA. He now hopes to bring thousands of Australians to the sport that “saved” him with the Alta programme.
However, what about Australia’s first UFC champion?
When asked how he thinks Whittaker will approach the rematch, Kavanagh alluded to Adesanya’s solitary loss in the UFC. A decision loss to light heavyweight champion Jan Blachowicz at UFC 259 in 2015.
On that occasion, the heavier Blachowicz was able to not only take Adesanya down but also maintained him for the duration of the fight, resulting in a genuine UFC upset.
“And some fans will say the fight exposed Israel’s weaknesses,” Kavanagh said.
“But I disagree.
“I’d say that was not only a ‘styles make fights’ situation, but weight making a difference.
“Yet now Israel is back in his own division, where he’s had plenty of guys try and use that game plan on him in the past – and it hasn’t worked.
“But it’s hard to believe (Whittaker’s team) didn’t look at what Jan did and not think they can do the same.
“So I do believe that will be a part of Whittaker’s strategy.
“It has to be.
“Because if it comes down to a pure striking match, Israel seems to be untouchable.
“So you can only imagine Whittaker is going to make it that type of fight in the clinch, bit of dirty boxing. Then utilise his great grappling.
“But I think that’s still a tough mountain to climb for him.
“And i’m a massive Whittaker fan.
“I love how he holds himself. How all his skills have come from hard work, sweat and determination.
“But Israel, he looks gifted – a guy who would’ve been great at whatever he chose to do.
“And he chose kickboxing, then Mixed Martial Arts.
“So I’d be leaning toward Israel to repeat what happened in the first fight this time.”
