5 hard-hitting predictions for Israel Adesanya vs. Robert Whittaker

#2. Chael Sonnen - Former UFC middleweight

Chael Sonnen predicts Israel Adesanya vs. Robert Whittaker 2

According to Chael Sonnen, Robert Whittaker has improved more than Israel Adesanya since their first meeting. However, Sonnen is convinced that Whittaker's biggest obstacle is whether he'll have the confidence to beat Adesanya.

Ultimately, 'The American Gangster' still believes Adesanya will defend his title. Sonnen, on his YouTube show, said:

"Whether Rob knows this or not, physically speaking, he has made the bigger gains. Robert Whittaker for sure, I can bring them the tape and show it to you, has made the bigger gains from the first time he fought with Adesanya till now vs. Adesanya in that fight until now. But there’s a big gap. When I talk about him making gains, there's still a gap. So I lean towards Adesanya... If Whittaker doesn’t believe what I said, then it's not true. If Robert Whittaker doesn't look at the man in the mirror and know, 'You're better tonight' and he doesn’t have a plan B... then he’s in trouble."

Official UFC 271 pick: Israel Adesanya

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#1. Michael Bisping - Former UFC middleweight champ

Michael Bisping predicts Israel Adesanya vs. Robert Whittaker 2

As a former middleweight champion, Michael Bisping is aware of how high the stakes are for Israel Adesanya and Robert Whittaker. The Englishman expects a more competitive fight than the 2019 version of the matchup.

According to Bisping, 'The Reaper' is poised to mount a monumental upset as he's in the best shape of his career. 'The Count' also stated that being the underdog is beneficial for Whittaker. Bisping believes that without all the pressure, the 31-year-old will be able to perform to the best of his ability:

"He's not been in the same country, he's in the form of his career, his wrestling numbers have picked up and gone through the roof, he's not the champion, he's the underdog, for all these reasons I think we'll see a very different Robert Whittaker. As a man, going out there and getting beaten the way he did last time is a tough pill to swallow, it is a rotting pain that stays with you for a long, long time. I'm not saying he's going to win. But he is going to do way better," said Bisping.

Official UFC 271 pick: Robert Whittaker