Israel Adesanya Hits Oddsmakers With Rare Praise

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UFC 284: Pedro v Bukauskas
PERTH, AUSTRALIA - FEBRUARY 12: Former UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya is seen in attendance during the UFC 284 event at RAC Arena on February 12, 2023 in Perth, Australia. (Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)
Israel Adesanya is set to rematch Alex Pereira this Saturday.

Israel Adesanya lost his middleweight title to Alex Pereira a few months back. Overall, Adesanya was the favorite to win that match. However, Pereira proved to be an incredible opponent. Of course, Adesanya is a superstar in the UFC, and the league was hoping for him to extend his title run a bit longer. Although now, he will have to win a rematch against Pereira in order to earn his title back. That rematch is set to go down Saturday at UFC 287. Needless to say, it is going to be a whole lot of fun.

Of course, this is not going to be an easy task. While Israel Adesanya has the tools to get it done, Pereira will be eager to showcase that his win was no fluke. Interestingly enough, heading into the match, Adesanya will be the slight favorite. Despite losing the first matchup, the oddsmakers are giving the edge to Izzy. Subsequently, the UFC superstar spoke about these odds while appearing on the TMZ Sports TV Show. For the most part, he is actually surprised that the oddsmakers would make him the favorite.

Israel Adesanya Is Excited To Get His Title Back

"I am surprised [that I'm the favorite] to be honest, cause I thought these bookies were not as smart as they are," Adesanya said. "I'm surprised they actually picked me as the favorite cause I am the more polished fighter, but he's the guy who got the tools, he's got that nuke. Only a few fighters in history have that." Of course, Israel Adesanya agrees with this recent assessment. It's just that this was wholly unexpected given recent history. However, as we all know, odds have nothing to do with what actually goes down in the Octagon.

This will prove to be a very important match for Israel Adesanya. If he loses, he won't be competing for another title, anytime soon. Moreover, it would be devastating for the UFC who are struggling to find a bonafide superstar to throw their support behind. Let us know who you think is going to win, in the comments section below. Additionally, stay tuned to HNHH for the latest news and updates from around the sports world.

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About The Author
Alexander Cole is the current Managing Editor of HotNewHipHop. He started at HotNewHipHop back in 2018 where he began as a Sports and Sneakers writer. During this time, he has shown an expertise in Air Jordans, Yeezys, and all things that have to do with Nike. His favorite kicks are the Air Jordan 1 High OG, the Air Jordan 4, the Air Jordan 6, and the Adidas Yeezy Boost 350 V2 in the "Beluga 2.0" colorway. Although his collection might not be the biggest, he is always looking to add new styles to it. When it comes to sports, Alex has a particular interest in the NBA and the NFL. His favorite teams are anywhere LeBron goes, and the Kansas City Chiefs. As a Montrealer, the Montreal Canadiens hold a special place in his heart, even if they haven't won the Stanley Cup in his lifetime. Alex also works for the Concordia Stingers, where he provides play-by-play and color commentary for the football, hockey, and basketball teams His favorite hip-hop artists are Kendrick Lamar, Playboi Carti, Travis Scott, and Lil Uzi Vert.
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