According to newly-crowned UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya, the Yoel Romero fight is a done deal.
‘The Last Stylebender’ broke the news to ESPN’s Ariel Helwani on Monday (h/t The Score MMA’s Nick Baldwin), claiming that the middleweight title bout will take place later this year at UFC 248.
“The fight’s done,” Adesanya said. “I literally just got to the gym now. I’m about to get some work in. Make no mistake, I’m still putting work in. I’m still getting ready for my second title defense against a veteran in the game, a veteran in the wrestling, a tough motherf—–, the boogeyman of the division, the guy no one calls out – except ‘Stylebender.’”
“The fight will happen, and it will happen on our terms as well,” he added. “I’m happy. I have no doubt that I’m going to get what I want out of this fight.”
Adesanya has yet to defend his title since KO’ing Robert Whittaker to unify middleweight belts at UFC 243. The Nigerian-New Zealander was originally expected to defend his strap against Paulo Costa but the Brazilian was forced to pull out of the bout due to injury.
UFC 248, which will likely feature Adesanya vs. Romero as the main event, takes place on March 7 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
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