Israel Adesanya turns down back-up spot for Whittaker-Gastelum at UFC 234

Hey, you know what sounds like fun? Spending the Thanksgiving and Christmas season training and cutting weight for a fight that probably won’t happen, just to arrive and collect a measly “show” purse of $56,000!

“[Dana White] mentioned it but I said no, I’m not about that,” middleweight contender, Israel Adesanya, told New Zealand Herald about serving as the promotion's back-up plan for the UFC 234 main event on Feb. 10, 2019 inside Rod Laver Arena in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.

Former welterweights, Robert Whittaker and Kelvin Gastelum, moved up to 185 pounds after grueling weight cuts left them at less-than-optimal performance, so it’s unlikely either combatant would experience a scale-fail the day before their middleweight title fight.

That reminds me, is there such a thing as an Australian loophole?

But “The Reaper” can’t defend his strap if a late-injury torpedoes the UFC 234 headliner, so don’t be surprised to have White and Co. on the prowl for another Plan B. I hear this Brazilian bruiser is looking for a fight...