Kiwi UFC fighter Israel Adesanya has identified a major advantage over rival Robert Whittaker just 10 days out from their UFC middleweight world title fight in Melbourne.
Adesanya and three other Kiwi fighters are gearing up for UFC 243, where he'll feature in the main event against the Kiwi-born Aussie.
Whittaker hasn't stepped into the Octagon for more than a year, due to a freak injury earlier this year.
A collapsed bowel and an intestine hernia forced him out of his fight with American Kelvin Gastelum, just hours before their fight in February.
That opened the door for Adesanya to beat Gastelum for an interim crown and a shot at the outright UFC middleweight title next month.
Whittaker's been taking part in amateur wrestling in preparation for the October 6 fight and Adesanya believes he holds an advantage there, having fought just four months ago.
"He's been out for so long, he wants to get that feeling of being under the pressure of competing in front of people, but you can't mimic it," Adesanya told Newshub.
"I've been fighting in arenas and he's been fighting in halls the last few months."
"Pressure is an acquired taste and he's not been tasting that for a while - and I've been chopping it."
Adesanya is receiving plenty of support for his bout at Marvel Stadium - he's even been glorified in this street mural in the Auckland suburb of Avondale.
Join us for live updates of UFC 243 on Sunday, October 6.
Newshub.
