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UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya has branded his long-time Marvin Vettori as the division's "biggest pretender".

Adesanya has only been in the promotion since 2018, but has already run through the gauntlet at 185lb, including beating Vettori twice. He has just one loss on his MMA record, when he moved up 20lb to fight Jan Blachowicz last year for the light-heavyweight title in Abu Dhabi, but has looked unbeatable in his own division.

And despite going the distance twice with Vettori, the first of which was a razor-close split decision, he believes the Italian is not all fans and experts crack him up to be. Speaking with Kayo Sports' Gloves Off show, Adesanya noted that he feels Vettori is shrouded in "fugazi".

"I want to say Marvin Vettori," he responded when asked who he feels the biggest pretender is. "He is a tough guy, a tough fighter, but, it's a lot of fugazi the guy brings in. I'd say he is the biggest pretender I have faced in the UFC. But there is a few more. Not just fighters that I can call out."

Vettori, as well as former champion Robert Whittaker, have opted to stay at middleweight despite twice losing to Adesanya and having particularly difficult paths