11:04 PM
The two best fighters in the world will meet again early next year.
Israel Adesanya will defend his UFC title against Robert Whittaker in the main event of UFC 271 in Houston on February 12. Whittaker was knocked out by Adesanya in the second round at UFC 243.
Adesanya is ranked as the second pound-for-pound fighter in the world. Adesanya and Whittaker are the top two at the weight.
Adesanya has never lost a title at 185 pounds. In his last UFC bout, the Nigerian native beat Marvin Vettori by a unanimous decision. Adesanya lost to Jan Blachowicz in a 205-pound title bout at UFC 259 last March.
Whittaker has won three in a row since losing the belt. The New Zealand-born Australian has won 12 of his past 13 fights, with the only loss coming to Adesanya. Whittaker was promoted to undisputed champion after winning the UFC middleweight title at UFC 213.
