Paul Craig believes Israel Adesanya may fight Jan Blachikosic after deciding to switch to lightweight to win a second UFC title.
The defending middleweight champion defeated number one contender Paulo Costa on Fight Island in September with consummate ease.
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Israel Adesanya aims second world title belt against Jan Blashikoiz
With favorite opponent Jared Cannonier failing to overtake Robert Whitaker, Adesania is actually denied the top contenders among the 185 contenders.
As it seems with many world champions, putting on weight and claiming a second belt is something “The Last Stylebender” aims to do on Saturday night in Las Vegas.
However, Craig, who has a world title ambition, believes the 205-pound move may not work in his favor.
He told talkSPORT.com: “We’ve seen people go upstairs to heavyweight the division and it has worked for people like Anthony Smith and Thiago Santos.
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Adesanya ousted Paulo Costa to retain his middleweight title
“But it didn’t work for Luke Rockhold and it didn’t work for Chris Weidman, who was the champion. So I think that sometimes to keep that extra weight and muscle that’s mass, because he A big boy, I don’t think it’s a favorable fight for Izzy.
“He’s never really been tested for shots and I think if Jana can’t give him big, heavy shots then he’s gonna fall and crush him.”
“So it’s an interesting fight, but that’s what makes it an entertaining division!”
‘Bearjue’ defeated Mauricio ‘Shogun’ Rua at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas in a remake of their classic bout a year ago.
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Paul Craig wants to retire after defeating Mauritio ‘Shogun’ Rua in his rematch
Although the former school teacher was in danger of losing his place in London at UFC two and a half years ago, he told TalkSport before the fight that a win over UFC’s legend Rua could lead him to victory.
“Looking at the division now, it’s wide open,” Craig said. “You have people [Blachowicz] In that number one position, but the division is open man.
“I think everyone has the opportunity to take advantage of it and it makes the light division even more exciting.
“John Jones moving to heavyweight made this division so much better because he no longer holds onto that title and that means there are still more people trying to get there.”
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In addition to teaching, Craig was a football coach and was thrilled to see the Tartan Army reach Euro 2020, their first major tournament of this millennium.
And with the popular anthem “Yes Sir, I Can Boogie”, which would become his release song, Craig hoped to make 2021 a special year for the Scottish game.
He concluded: “It inspires a nation! We are famous for not being great at sports, our last major competition was in 1998, France.
“Maybe next year we’ll see Paul Craig FC UFC Champion ‘and European Champion from Scotland? We saw WWE star Drew McIntire get the belt. So who knows, maybe Scotland will be just the venue for the game? “