Former UFC middleweight champion Michael Bisping thinks he knows what Robert Whittaker needs to do to take back his 185-pound title from Israel Adesanya at UFC 271.
Bisping knows what it takes to compete at the highest levels of the UFC. He also understands making adjustments to score revenge in a rematch. Like he did against Dan Henderson at UFC 204 when he avenged his previous defeat against “Hendo” at UFC 100. Along with being an ESPN analyst on UFC broadcasts, he has a great perspective to offer an opinion on the UFC 271 main event title fight between Whittaker (23-5) and Adesanya (21-1).
“Reaper” lost to Adesanya by technical knockout in the pair’s first outing in 2019. Whittaker recently admitted that he fought recklessly with anger and ego at UFC 243. In the February title fight rematch, “The Count” says the Australian must fight far more measured, let the champion be the aggressor, and then counter those actions.
Michael Bisping breaks down the keys for a Robert Whittaker rematch win over Israel Adesanya
“What Robert needs to do in this one, and I think more of what he’s talking about here is letting Israel attack him. That’s what we saw Jan Blachowicz do [against Adesanya at UFC 259]. Standing his ground pretty much, and letting Israel come forward and be the aggressor,” Bisping said during a guest appearance on MMA podcast Submission Radio. “And that makes it easier to counter. Also, Robert’s got to use a lot of feints, a lot of misdirection. The feints are the key to everything. When he throws feints, make Israel think he’s gonna throw a right hand or whatever, Israel reacts, and that’s when he attacks. He’s got to draw the attack out of Israel. But easier said than done.”
Did Jan Blachowicz create a wrestling blueprint against Adesanya?
In recent interviews, Whittaker has mentioned trying to mirror what Blachowicz was able to do against “The Last Stylebender,” when he beat him by unanimous decision a year ago, and work to get the champ on his back. Bisping admits getting Adesanya down is not a game plan news flash and is far easier said than done. However, takedowns will still be a useful part of the strategy, as long as Whittaker looks to get his New Zealand counterpart down far away from the cage.
“We know Robert said recently when he saw the fight with Jan Blachowicz, that laid out the blueprint on how to beat Israel. Well that’s not really a big revelation is it? We all know he’s a kickboxer, take him down. But it’s been harder to take him down than what people think,” said Bisping. … “Another thing that Jan Blachowicz did was take him down in the center of the Octagon. MMA fighters spend a tremendous amount of time against a padded wall, or against the cage, just drilling takedown defense against the fence. When it’s against the fence it’s easier because if someone tries to take you down you can lean on that fence.
“And if you do get taken down it’s easier to get up by the fence because, again, you can lean on it. If someone pushes you forward they’re pushing you into the fence. Out in the open, there’s nothing to help you. So if you’re trying to stay on your feet, there’s no fence to lean on so you’ll fall down. If you try to get back on your feet, the person just has to drive forward and you go back down. So I think that [fight] did reveal some things for Robert,” he added.
“We know Robert’s a great wrestler. I think the Whittaker we saw against Kelvin Gastelum; I was blown away. That was a master class. I’m not saying he’s gonna win this fight, but I think I know for a fact that this fight is gonna be remarkably different from the first.”
UFC 271 takes place on February 12. Whittaker vs Adesanya 2 will serve as the event’s headliner. The main card will air exclusively on ESPN+ for a pay-per-view price of $74.99.
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