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Nicolas Atkin

Israel Adesanya took a swipe at Yoel Romero for showing “disrespect” by not showing up in person for their UFC 248 press conference in Auckland on Saturday.
The “Soldier of God”, who challenges “Stylebender” for the UFC middleweight title on March 7, was present via Skype video and audio link.
And there were plenty of awkward delays, pauses and technical difficulties for the audience inside Spark Arena in New Zealand.
“To be honest, I’m only doing this for you guys, you guys charged me up for this,” Adesanya said on stage to the crowd. “F*** this [expletive] he didn’t even show up.


“I went all the way to America for one day. I showed up, I did my thing, and he can’t even show up. The disrespect, the audacity.”
Adesanya had shown up in Houston earlier this month for the announcement of his fight against Romero ahead during UFC 247 fight week, before flying straight back to Auckland to resume training at City Kick-boxing.
UFC’s first Thai fighter Loma relishes training alongside Adesanya
“I’m pissed – why didn’t you fly? I wanna know,” Adesanya said, turning around to look at Romero’s face, which was projected on the giant screen behind him.
“It was last minute,” Romero replied, smiling, through a translator. “And if they have told me I had to go over there, I would have gone to your house.”
Adesanya continued to poke fun at Romero through the half-hour press conference, where media and fans asked the fighters questions.

“He’s a guy no one wants to fight, the ‘Oogey Boogeyman’,” Adesanya said. “Even Darren Till said ‘I’ll fight anyone except Yoel’. Why? I’ve seen him get rocked. I’ve seen him get stopped. I’ve seen him cry. I’ll make him cry.
“He’s human like anyone else. And everyone likes to make this myth about how it’s like kicking steel, you hit him he doesn’t fall. I’ll touch him enough times and eventually he’ll crumble like the Twin Towers. Too soon?”
Adesanya also said he would be happy to put his belt on the line against Jared Cannonier or Darren Till if the 43-year-old Romero fails to make weight.

“All I know is if he misses weight, I’m gonna take 80 per cent of his f****** cheque, that’s it,” Adesanya said. “That’s the only thing that pisses me off, is that it won’t be classified with a red ruby on my belt.
“He’s a guy who disrespected the sport. His last win was at [UFC] 221 [against Luke Rockhold]. He had probably another two hours to try and make the weight and he decided not to make the weight – ‘I’ll take the fine, take the deduction of a point, but I won’t dehydrate myself to the point where I won’t be able to fight’.
“That way he gets to go out there, knock out Rockhold and then still goes to fight for the belt and then not win and then try it again and not win. They have tactics they have in place to try to stay a step ahead.”

Adesanya also said he does not fear former Olympic wrestler Romero’s skills on the ground.
“He does not have any energy. His gas tank is already on ‘E’ [empty] right now, look at the way he’s sitting,” Adesanya said, turning around to face the screen again.
“If he comes heavy with the wrestling, he better pack a lunch because he’s gonna be in for a long day. Sprawl and brawl. When I sprawl, my nuts are gonna be on the back of his head. I’ll push his head down and smack him in the face with an uppercut.
“Tell him what I said – balls on the back of your head,” Adesanya added for the translator.


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Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC)

UFC 248: Israel Adesanya slams ‘disrespectful’ Yoel Romero for no-showing Auckland press conference

Israel Adesanya talks during a press conference for UFC 248 in Houston. Photos: AFP

CHICAGO, IL - JUNE 09: Yoel Romero of Cuba (R) attempts to take down Robert Whittaker of New Zealand (L) in the third round in their middleweight title fight during the UFC 225: Whittaker v Romero 2 event at the United Center on June 9, 2018 in Chicago, Illinois. Whittaker won in a split decision. Dylan Buell/Getty Images/AFP == FOR NEWSPAPERS, INTERNET, TELCOS & TELEVISION USE ONLY ==

ANAHEIM, CALIFORNIA - AUGUST 17: Paulo Costa throws a punch at Yoel Romero in the third round during their Middleweight Bout at UFC 241 at Honda Center on August 17, 2019 in Anaheim, California. Joe Scarnici/Getty Images/AFP == FOR NEWSPAPERS, INTERNET, TELCOS & TELEVISION USE ONLY ==

HOUSTON, TEXAS - FEBRUARY 07: Yoel Romero talks during a press conference for UFC 248 at Toyota Center on February 07, 2020 in Houston, Texas. Ronald Martinez/Getty Images/AFP == FOR NEWSPAPERS, INTERNET, TELCOS & TELEVISION USE ONLY ==

UFC’s first Thai fighter Loma Lookboonmee relishes training alongside Israel Adesanya in Auckland

Loma Lookboonmee with Israel Adesanya at City Kick-boxing in Auckland. Photo: George Hickman

Loma Lookboonmee with Israel Adesanya at City Kick-boxing in Auckland

Mixed martial artist Loma Lookboonmee (right) kicks Aleksandra Albu

Loma Lookboonmee trains at Tiger Muay Thai.

Loma Lookboonmee signs posters in Auckland.

Mixed martial artist Loma Lookboonmee (right) clinches Aleksandra Albu

UFC 247: Israel Adesanya says Jon Jones is ‘washed up’ after Dominick Reyes fight

Israel Adesanya talks during a press conference for UFC 248. Photos: AFP

HOUSTON, TEXAS - FEBRUARY 08: Jon Jones celebrates his win against Dominick Reyes in their UFC Light Heavyweight Championship bout during UFC 247 at Toyota Center on February 08, 2020 in Houston, Texas. Ronald Martinez/Getty Images/AFP == FOR NEWSPAPERS, INTERNET, TELCOS & TELEVISION USE ONLY ==

UFC gets all-clear for Chinese fighters amid coronavirus as Yan Xiaonan brings ‘Fury’ to Auckland

Yan Xiaonan throws a kick at Syuri Kondo at UFC Fight Night 141. Photos: Handout

Yan Xiaonan.

Yan Xiaonan autographs UFC posters in Auckland.

Yan Xiaonan training.

UFC 247: Jon Jones ignores Israel Adesanya questions – ‘I’m just here so I don’t get fined’

Jon Jones delivers a kick to Dominick Reyes at UFC 247. Photo: AP

HOUSTON, TEXAS - FEBRUARY 08: Jon Jones walks to his corner in between rounds against Dominick Reyes in their UFC Light Heavyweight Championship bout during UFC 247 at Toyota Center on February 08, 2020 in Houston, Texas. Ronald Martinez/Getty Images/AFP == FOR NEWSPAPERS, INTERNET, TELCOS & TELEVISION USE ONLY ==

Sport

Martial Arts

Mixed Martial Arts


Romero appears live via video feed at Spark Arena in New Zealand, which hosts Fight Night 168 on Sunday
‘I went all the way to America for one day, and he can’t even show up. The audacity,’ says middleweight champ



Middleweight champ Israel Adesanya mocks Yoel Romero for having ‘audacity’ to appear via live video feed at Spark Arena in Auckland for UFC 248 press conference.


Israel Adesanya

Martial arts