UFC 271: Israel Adesanya warns Robert Whittaker 'he isn’t the only one evolving’

Israel Adesanya has warned Robert Whittaker ‘I’m not the same fighter either’ ahead of their rematch.

The Last Stylebender will be back in action this weekend when he faces Whittaker at UFC 271 on February 12 at Houston’s Toyota Center.

Whittaker, 31, has worked hard to reinvent himself following his defeat to Adesanya in October 2019.

However, Adesanya says he doesn’t see it that way, as he insists ‘it’s not as drastic as people are saying’.

When asked about Whittaker’s improvements to his striking game, he told FOX Sports: “There are changes, but it’s not as drastic as people are saying.

“And he’s not going to strike with me.

“So come this weekend, I’ll look forward to the grapple, to the scramble, because he’ll be surprised there as well.

“I saw a clip recently where he said ‘I’m not the same Robert as 2019’.

“But I’m not the same fighter, either.

“He isn’t the only one evolving. I’m evolving too – and rapidly.

“So he isn’t special in that facet.

“There are levels to this game and people are about to see what those levels are.”

Adesanya, 32, recently claimed Whittaker is in for a rude awakening if he tries to copy Jan Blachowicz.

During an interview with Stake.com, he said: “My prediction is that I am going to f*** Whittaker up, again.

“He can’t stand with me, so I know he will be forced to grapple.

“Last time he said Kevin Gastelum has given the blueprint on how to beat Adesanya,’ and now he’s saying ‘Jan has given the blueprint’…. he needs to write his own blueprint.

“If he wants to copy someone else’s work, then by all means try, because it went so well last time for him when we fought.

“Whittaker may have learnt from his mistakes from last time for maybe a round or so, but then trust me, he will revert back to