Featured in UFC Las Vegas 50, Alex Poatán criticizes the technique shown by Israel adesanya as an Ultimate athlete. Executioner of the middleweight champion (up to 83,9kg.) twice during his kickboxing days, the Glory legend sees his rival as a level below what was shown in the past. Exclusively to SUPER FIGHTS, the opponent of Bruno Blindado this Saturday (12), he spoke about the subject.
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“I think his striking, his level, in my opinion, is a little lower. There was a division. He needed to specialize 100% in MMA and other sports. I don't see his evolution. Not to mention that it is worse, it is at a standstill, but what it already has is enough to maintain these victories”, he stated.
Even though he is willing to hold a reunion with Israel within MMA rules, the Brazilian guarantees that a trilogy is not his main focus. Second, Poatan states that the goal is the belt.
“When I signed (the UFC contract), I said: 'I want to be champion'. It doesn't matter if it's Adesanya or whoever. I want to be the champion. If I get there and he's there, I'll be happy. 'Ah, he's already fought the guy twice'. Does not matter. I fight 10 times, if possible. In all my fights, when I do the first one, in the second one I always do better. In the third, even better. 'Ah, but it's MMA. The guy has 20 fights and Alex has five'. It's the same number as kickboxing. At the time, he had 80 fights and I had 27, at most. I beat the guy twice. People disbelieve. (…) I want to be champion, regardless of who it is. What am I going to stay with Adesanya for? Are you going to give it to me tomorrow? They won’t,” he concluded.
This weekend, Poatan will make his second appearance with the Ultimate gloves. In his debut, held in November last season, the Brazilian put on a show by brutalizing Andreas Michailidis with a knockout in the second round.
No UFC Las Vegas 50, Alex will have a tough commitment ahead of him. To get closer to the belt's dream, the fighter will need to get past his compatriot Bruno Blindado, who has three wins on the fast track and doesn't know what it's like to lose in Ultimate.
