Israel Adesanya and Robert Whittaker have been saying very different things ahead of their middleweight title bout at UFC 271. The Australian has been very focused on being in a good place mentally whilst the New Zealander has been firing shots at him.

Things are complicated between the two as there is respect but they don't like each other. Israel Adesanya recently spoke about the situation and offered a brutal warning to Robert Whittaker.

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“It’s no secret that we don’t like each other,” Adesanya said at a UFC 271 pre-fight press event, via MMAJunkie. “There is no need for it. There is no need for us to like each other, but I do empathize with what he said. Who brought this up to me? I can’t remember. I think he talked about it on Instagram. We talked about his dark place he went to after the last time I beat him. I’ve been there. Everyone has been there in their own personal way. I understand, and I empathize when you don’t want to get up and all that stuff and you lose motivation. Yeah, I’m glad he’s pulled himself out of it. I’m glad he’s feeling much better. He’s a better man, a better fighter, all that. So yeah, I’ll take him to the dark place again.”

The two are expected to meet in a very exciting bout in the main event of UFC 271. Many people seem to be siding with Robert Whittaker ahead of Israel Adesanya as the event draws closer.