Israel Adesanya shares a heartwarming embrace with rival Robert Whittaker at UFC 284

Israel Adesanya and Robert Whittaker put their rivalry aside for a moment of mutual respect at UFC 284.

The two middleweights were seen in attendance at the recently concluded pay-per-view event, where the pair hung out together. Adesanya posted a photo of the two embracing on his Instagram Story. The moment was accompanied by the lyrics of Randy Newman's classic, 'You've Got a Friend in Me'.

Check out Israel Adesanya's image of a heartwarming embrace with rival Robert Whittaker at UFC 284 below:

Israel Adesanya's heartwarming embrace with rival Robert Whittaker at UFC 284

The two fighters squared off twice in the octagon. Adesanya and Whittaker met for the first time at UFC 243, with 'The Last Stylebender' winning via second-round knockout and capturing the middleweight title. When they met again at UFC 271, Whittaker put up a much better performance. Nonetheless, Adesanya retained his title with a unanimous decision victory.

At UFC 275, 'The Reaper' revealed his aspirations for a trilogy against his adversary:

"I want to get back at Israel. I want that third fight, especially after the way the second fight went, you know. I want that fight with him."

Unfortunately, due to Adesanya losing the title to Alex Pereira recently, it is unlikely that a third fight between them will happen in the near future.

Check out Whittaker's interview below:

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Israel Adesanya comments on Francis Ngannou's exit from the UFC

Israel Adesanya has expressed his support for former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou, who recently left the UFC following failed renegotiations with the promotion.

Adesanya spoke highly of Ngannou in a recent interview, claiming that he was merely asking for "reasonable demands" rather than "diva-ish" ones. Adesanya went on to call Ngannou the greatest heavyweight of all time and expressed his belief that the fighter will eventually return to the UFC.

The former middleweight champ said:

"Francis made the right call. He's the one that kicked in the door. We've all been behind him... He's right, it's little things. He's asking for things that should be mandatory. He wasn't asking for crazy, ridiculous, diva-ish demands. Even something as little as for the guys fighting on the opening, having the fourth or third cornerman being paid for and the hotels being paid for."

Adesanya continued:

"That sets them up nicely and they don't have to fork it out of their ten and ten or maybe even ten to pay for their fourth or third cornerman. Little things like that. He's not being a diva. He's asking for reasonable demands, and I felt like he should've got them. He told me they said, 'That's not how we do business,' but the way we do business has to change and it will change. He's just the guy to kick in the door."

Check out Israel Adesanya talk about Ngannou's exit in the interview below (4:05 mark):