Kiwi UFC middleweight prospect Israel Adesanya has an opportunity to talk himself into a potential trans-Tasman title shot against Robert Whittaker.
The City Kickboxing star is riding a four-fight win streak since making his Octagon debut in February and obliterated perennial contender Derek Brunson in New York early this month.
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Adesanya has since jumped to number six in the UFC middleweight rankings and is on the verge of securing a future shot at UFC gold.
Middleweight champion Whittaker is scheduled to defend that belt against Kelvin Gastelum in Melbourne in February and according to UFC president Dana White, if 'Bobby Knuckles' gets past the American, a Bledisloe MMA super-fight is on the cards.
Speaking to the Daily Telegraph, White said he was a big fan of the Nigerian born striker and given the current outlook of the division, he was closer to a title shot than his ranking suggested.
In fact, White and Adesanya are scheduled to meet in Sydney on Wednesday to map out the next few months.
"It's very possible, yes," White said of a potential fight with Whittaker. "That's why he's flying in here - Israel wants to meet with me and talk.
"When he read that I was flying in here this week, he said he wanted to come across and talk, and that's awesome."
A future showdown between Adesanya and Whittaker for UFC gold is dependent on the Kiwi-born Australian knocking over Gastelum at Rod Laver Arena - easier said than done.
The 27-year-old is 5-1 as a middleweight, dispatching three former world champions in the process. His last win over fellow contender Ronaldo Souza in May launched him into this title opportunity, and he will want to dampen the plans of both Adesanya and White.
But if the 27-year-old Sydneysider wins, a Kiwi vs Aussie clash is a good odds bet for later in 2019.
Whittaker has already battered two contenders ranked ahead of the Kiwi, and with former champions Luke Rockhold and Chris Weidman likely to meet next, Adesanya could leapfrog them all.
White is open to that fight happening on this side of the world.
"That would certainly make the most sense," he told the Daily Telegraph. "In fact, if these two guys fight, it's something I would really look at doing in a stadium here."
And White is so high on 'The Last Stylebender' that he has put him alongside the likes of megastars Conor Mcgregor, Ronda Rousey, Geroge St Pierre and Chuck Liddell.
White believes the Aucklander could be the next big thing in the UFC.
"Israel is one of those guys who, if he can deliver, if he can win a world title, he will be incredibly famous," White said. "And famous all over the planet - this kid can be incredibly big.
"I love everything about him. The way he talks, the way he fights... and the kid wants to fight every month."
White confirmed to the Daily Telegraph that Adesanya will likely be on standby to fight in February, if Whittaker or Gastelum succumb to injury.
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