UFC 271 press conference LIVE: Israel Adesanya and Robert Whittaker speak ahead of fight

The middleweight champion and his challenger come face-to-face for the first time since their first fight

Israel Adesanya dances during his walkout at UFC 243

UFC 271 takes place in Houston, Texas this Saturday, with the headline bout seeing middleweight champion Israel Adesanya defend the belt against Robert Whittaker in a rematch, more than two years after the current title holder dethroned the Australian.

Adesanya has antagonised Whittaker at every opportunity – both before their first fight and in the build-up to this weekend’s clash – and tonight the rivals will go face-to-face for the first time since their initial in-ring meeting. On that evening in October 2019, Nigerian-born New Zealander Adesanya knocked out Whittaker on the then-champion’s home soil in Melbourne’s Marvel Stadium. The seismic bout ended in the second round, with a UFC record crowd of more than 57,000 in attendance.

The pair will main event again this Saturday, with the co-main event featuring Whittaker’s compatriot Tai Tuivasa in an important heavyweight match-up against former title challenger Derrick Lewis. All four fighters will speak at a press conference tonight, as will UFC president Dana White.

Follow live updates from the UFC 271 pre-fight press conference below.

UFC 271 pre-fight press conference

• UFC 271 takes place on Saturday 12 February
• Adesanya defends middleweight belt in Whittaker rematch
• Co-main event sees heavyweights Tuivasa and Lewis clash

[11 February 2022 00:11 · Alex Pattle]

UFC 271 press conference

Israel Adesanya (left) goes face-to-face with Robert Whittaker (UFC - Ultimate Fighting Championship via YouTube)

[11 February 2022 00:11 · Alex Pattle]

UFC 271 press conference

That’s all from the fighters and White...

The weigh-ins are tomorrow; let’s hope everything goes smoothly. If so, everyone is in for a great card on Saturday night.

We’ll have live updates of UFC 271 then!

[11 February 2022 00:05 · Alex Pattle]

UFC 271 press conference

Adesanya: “You could see the moment weighing on him [last time], and he was denying it the whole time.

“And obviously he had to; he couldn’t tell me: ‘Yeah, I’m feeling the pressure, bro. F*****g hell, this is crazy...’”

Whittaker laughs.

“But we could feel that and see that. Pressure is a really acquired taste.”

[11 February 2022 00:04 · Alex Pattle]

UFC 271 press conference

Whittaker: “I’m in a good mood. Things between me and Izzy have been quite civil, so we’re in a really good place.

“I think we’re gonna put on a really outstanding show on Saturday.”

[11 February 2022 00:03 · Alex Pattle]

UFC 271 press conference

Whittaker: “You can see the difference between us and the rest of the division [level-wise].

“I have to take this rematch with a lot more gravity and respect. I’ve been watching his recent fights and they all look phenomenal. I’ve watched the tape back from our fight and found things I could’ve done differently.

“Honestly my team has done the best job of equipping me with the skills I need to win this fight, it’s on me.

“Night and day [difference to the first fight]. I’m enjoying this one.”

[11 February 2022 00:01 · Alex Pattle]

UFC 271 press conference

Adesanya on usurping Anderson Silva as the middleweight GOAT: “I’m not chasing that, I don’t chase those numbers.

“If I fail this next fight, all of that’s f****d up.”

[10 February 2022 23:59 · Alex Pattle]

UFC 271 press conference

Adesanya on Whittaker’s tactics: “He’s a smart man. I think he has a lot of smart people in his team. They know what they’re in for.”

[10 February 2022 23:58 · Alex Pattle]

UFC 271 press conference

White is still waiting for a beer for his shoey...

[10 February 2022 23:55 · Alex Pattle]

UFC 271 press conference

Adesanya: “I never lost my passion for this game, but I got bored in my last fight. For me, it’s about staying in it.

“With this guy here, he brought the fight last time.”

[10 February 2022 23:54 · Alex Pattle]

UFC 271 press conference

White says he will hold further talks with Francis Ngannou when the heavyweight champion is back from Cameroon, having already spoken to him after the main event of UFC 270 last month.