Israel Adesanya’s nutritionist, Jordi Sullivan, doesn’t believe “The Last Stylebender” has to bulk up for his fight with Jan Blachowicz.
In the main event of UFC 259, Adesanya is moving up to light heavyweight to try and become a champ-champ. Although the middleweight champion routinely is under the 185-pound limit, Sullivan doesn’t believe Adesanya has to add weight for this fight.
“I’m super excited but I don’t think the weight … we’re definitely not worried about that,” Sullivan told SCMP MMA. “I’m not gonna reveal too much about what we’re doing but it’s not that drastic a change, because Israel doesn’t cut a heap of weight [at 185 pounds].
“He stills cuts weight that week and he comes in as a good size, but there’s no need for us to say we need to bulk right up for this one and come in because Israel is a big dude and he’s strong,” Sullivan added. “Cutting weight and getting this perceived size advantage is fine and you can play that card when you’re top five in the UFC and you’re like, ‘[Expletive], I need some kind of edge here, we’re just a level playing field’.
“With Israel, he’s kinda like a one of a generation fighter. Everyone is here [at one level], the best of the best,” he concluded. “I still really believe Israel is here [at a higher level], and I think it’s hard to argue with that last performance Israel put on.”
The weight shouldn’t be a concern for Israel Adesanya given the fact he has talked about fighting at heavyweight against Jon Jones. The Last Stylebender fought at heavyweight in kickboxing so he knows how to fight at a higher weight.
Adesanya enters UFC 259 with a perfect 20-0 record in MMA and has already defended his middleweight title twice. But, if he can get past Blachowicz and become a champ-champ, it will secure his legacy as one of the best.
