After becoming UFC Middleweight Interim Champion at UFC 236, Israel Adesanya is on a collision course with current undisputed champion Robert Whittaker.
Once that business is complete though, a handful of elite middleweight contenders will be waiting. One of those names will almost certainly be Jack Hermansson, currently riding a four fight win-streak and standing at #5 in the division’s UFC rankings. ‘The Joker’ has his own view-point on the potential unification clash though and in an interview with Fightful’s own Harry Kettle, he even offered a prediction.
“I really believe that Robert Whittaker will be the one coming out on top because Adesanya is a really, really tricky fighter but I feel like if there’s somebody that doesn’t bite on his tricks and doesn’t buy his feints, it’s Robert Whittaker,” he said. “He’s the guy with that focus, he never loses his concentration, always stays perfect according to his game-plan. And he’s really, really good with his combinations, he’s a good finisher.
I think he’s gonna be a tough task for Adesanya. I also believe that Whittaker is the more all-round fighter of the two of them. But it’s not gonna be an easy fight for either of them but I think Whittaker is taking it this time.”
As for after that, well Hermansson has another prediction to offer, “I think that I will fight Kelvin Gastelum in my next fight, that’s what I’m hoping for. I’m gonna beat him and then, if I have a super brutal finish, you never know, they might give me a title shot.” In truth though, Hermansson understands that other names remain in line.
“I think there is a big chance that . . . the winner of Paulo Costa – Yoel Romero is also likely to get the next title shot. I think they might put me after them so I might have to have another fight or I might have to wait if I beat Gastelum for a title shot. I think it’s a wiser to let either the winner of Costa and Romero or the winner of me and Gastelum wait for a title instead of us facing each other. Because it’s just cancelling out the division.
I think it’s good to put somebody up there in the next title shot and then take another one in the title shot (after) as well. Just to have a couple exciting guys going for the title.”
Considering Hermansson’s recent success, it’s hard to question his plans. ‘The Joker’ has won four straight and in less than a month, managed victories over David Branch and ‘Jacare’ Souza too.
Check out the video above to see Hermansson’s full interview with Fightful's Harry Kettle.
